# NTSB NYC98LA134: Cessna 172, N6640H, Westminster, MD, June 24, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 24, 1998, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Westminster, MD - Coordinates: 39.570087, -76.999443 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5701&lon=-76.9994&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 31, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39578 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC98LA134 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39578/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA134 ## Probable cause the pilot's misjudgment of distance and speed during the approach/landing, and his delay in initiating a go-around. The quartering tailwind was a related factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - aborted - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - distance/speed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - aborted landing - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, other ## Analysis While returning to his home base, the student pilot became disorientated, and requested assistance from Baltimore Approach Control. Baltimore provided the pilot with radar vectors to an airport. He landed on runway 13 with a wind from 270 degrees at 12 knots. After touching down, the pilot realized that airport was a short field, and that he was not configured for that type of landing. He attempted a go-around, but could not get the airplane to lift off. Subsequently, it nosed over and came to rest inverted. ## Factual narrative On June 24, 1998, at 1330 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N6640H, owned and operated by Congressional Air Charter Inc., was substantially damaged while landing at Clearview Airpark Airport (2W2), Westminster, Maryland. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional flight that originated at Frederick Municipal Airport (FDK), about 1300, destined for Montgomery County Airpark Airport (GAI), Gaithersburg, Maryland. No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a written statement, the student pilot stated he had been doing traffic pattern work at FDK before attempting a return to GAI, the airplane's home base. While en route he became disorientated, and requested assistance from Baltimore Approach Control. Baltimore then provided him with radar vectors to 2W2. The pilot added that it was "quite windy and bumpy" as he entered the traffic pattern for 2W2. After touching down, the pilot realized that 2W2 was a "short field" and that he was not configured for that type of landing. He attempted to abort the landing, but during the maneuver, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. A review of aeronautical information for GAI, FDK, and 2W2 showed the following. GAI: the airport where the airplane was based had one runway that was 4,201 feet in length, and 75 feet wide. FDK: the airport the student pilot was practicing traffic patterns at also had one runway measuring 5,220 feet in length, and 100 feet in width. 2W2, the accident airport had one runway measuring 1,845 feet in length, and was 30 feet wide. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6640H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6640H), registered now, S/N 17265520, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17265520 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Congressional Air Charter Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 15, 1998, 60 hours before - Departed: FDK, FREDERICK, MD - Destination: GAI, GAITHERSBURG, MD - Airport: 2W2, Clearview Airpark, runway 13, 1,845 × 30 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 41 total, 41 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 12 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: BWI, 25 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19980624015169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980624015169A), Jun 24, 1998: Cessna 172M, Westminster, MD, Substantial damage. (.4)While returning to his home base, the student pilot became disorientated, and requested assistance from baltimore approach control. Baltimore provided the… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.