# NTSB NYC99LA174: Cessna 172M, N42246, Hamburg, NY, July 12, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 12, 1999, 12:50 local (16:50 UTC) - Place: Hamburg, NY - Coordinates: 42.720317, -78.830055 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7203&lon=-78.8301&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report August 3, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46793 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC99LA174 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46793/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA174 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing. A related factor was the lack of experience in make and model. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - fence - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ravine ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was performing takeoffs and landings. The pilot said on the first approach. , 'I inadvertently extended only minimal flaps and therefore landed fast. A sudden wind change compounded this situation. I was unable to stop, porpoised three times, ran off end of runway and the aircraft fell down a ravine that borders the airport to the south. Fire destroyed the aircraft.' The pilot had a total time of 104 hours, 30 hours as pilot-in-command, and 7 hours in make and model. ## Factual narrative On July 12, 1999, about 1250 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N42246, was destroyed while landing at Hamburg Inc. Airport, Hamburg, New York. The certificated private pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight which had originated from Hamburg about 1 hour earlier. No flight plan had been filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the pilot had flown with a flight instructor earlier in the day and practiced takeoffs and landings. The flight instructor then exited the airplane and the pilot continued with his practice. In the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report Form, the pilot stated: "I was practicing takeoff and landings on runway 19 at Hamburg Airport in Cessna 172 N42246. I was PIC and alone on board. I inadvertently extended only minimal flaps and therefor landed fast. A sudden wind change compounded this situation. I was unable to stop, propoised three times, ran off end of runway and the aircraft fell down a ravine that borders the airport to the south. Fire destroyed the aircraft." One witness reported: "...I saw Cessna C-172 N42246 land long and fast at Hamburg Airport Runway 19 (about 1/2 way). The aircraft hit nose first (slightly) and bounce 2 more times then overshoot the runway and fall down the ravine. The wind had been favoring Runway 19 but very suddenly swung around to favor Runway 01...." Another witness reported: "...The aircraft was attempting to land but was landing downwind at very high speed for final and flaps full up position. Aircraft began porpoising at end of runway and over guard rail into gorge...." The terrain beyond the end of the runway sloped down to a creek, about 100 feet below the level of the runway. The airplane settled into trees at the bottom of the ravine, and both wings were sheared off. A post crash fire developed and the fuselage was destroyed. The FAA Inspector reported there was about 50 feet of grass overrun at the end of the runway. This was followed by a road, and then a guard rail that was about 2 feet high. Marks were found in the grass and on the top of the guard rail that were similar in width to the main landing gear width. The pilot reported the winds were variable at 8 knots. A check of the winds at Buffalo International Airport, located 15 nautical miles northeast revealed the winds were variable the hour prior to the accident, and near the time of the accident they were from 130 degrees at 8 knots. At Dunkirk, New York, located 21 miles southwest of Hamburg, the winds were variable 2 hours prior to the accident, and near the time of the accident they were from 020 degrees at 5 knots. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot reported his total time as 104 hours, his pilot in command time as 30 hours, and 7 hours in make and model. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N42246](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N42246-1999-08-20), registration cancelled 1999-08-20, S/N 17264165 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17264165 - Airframe hours: 5080 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Hamburg Airport Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 24, 1999, 53 hours before - Departed: 4G2 - Airport: 4G2, Hamburg Inc Airport, runway 19, 2,465 × 30 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 104 total, 7 in this make and model, 30 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BUF, 14 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 19990712008829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990712008829A), Jul 12, 1999: Cessna 172M, Hamburg, NY, Destroyed. Pilot was practicing touch and go landings when it overshot the rwy, went into a creek, and caught on fire, other circumstances are unknown. (-23) on Monday,… 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.