Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 172P near Davis, WV — 2013-04-26

Final reportERA13CA218
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Date
2013-04-26
Location
Davis, WV, USA
Airport
WV62
Aircraft
CESSNA 172P
Registration
N96178
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot’s improper glidepath as he approached the runway and his subsequent delayed decision to abort the landing.

NTSB narrative

At the end of a cross-country flight, the pilot entered the traffic pattern for the 3,000-foot-long by 40-foot-wide runway at the residential airpark. The pilot stated that because he was concerned about the houses located near the runway, he approached the runway higher and faster than he normally would. As a result, the airplane touched down near the runway mid-point. When he realized that insufficient distance remained to stop the airplane, the pilot aborted the landing. During the subsequent climb, the pilot heard the stall warning sound and decreased the pitch attitude to gain airspeed. About that time, the airplane struck trees beyond the departure end of the runway and impacted the ground in a nose-down attitude, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airframe or engine what would have precluded normal operation and that his decision to abort the landing was “about 5 seconds too late.”

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents4

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