Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 172N near Welch, WV — 2011-02-27

Final reportERA11LA168
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Date
2011-02-27
Location
Welch, WV, USA
Airport
I25
Aircraft
CESSNA 172N
Registration
N739NY
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The unlicensed pilot’s decision to land on a closed runway with a tailwind, his failure to attain the proper touchdown point, and his delayed decision to attempt a go-around, resulting in a collision with trees.

NTSB narrative

The unlicensed pilot was practicing landings with a tailwind in the traffic pattern at a closed airport in an unregistered airplane. The pilot refused to provide a statement, but a witness stated that the airplane was too fast on landing and too slow on climbout after the landing was aborted. The airplane struck trees at the departure end of the runway, and then settled into trees below the elevated runway. A postcrash examination of the wreckage revealed no mechanical deficiencies that would have precluded normal operation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the approach earlier to avoid collision.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 10 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents10

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