Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 172SP near South Harpswell, ME — 2008-09-01

Final reportMIA08CA179
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Date
2008-09-01
Location
South Harpswell, ME, USA
Airport
ME33
Aircraft
CESSNA 172SP
Registration
N251SP
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while landing in gusty winds.

NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that prior to landing he believed that he had a quartering head wind between 6 and 8 knots. Once over runway 14 at 10 feet agl, "suddenly the wind shifted and we were lifted up and keeled over to the right. Once I leveled the wings I realized that we were quickly running out of runway." The pilot stated that he attempted a go-around; he put in full power and raised the flaps to 20 degrees. However, he did not have enough power or clearance to stay out of the trees. The pilot banked left to avoid the trees and "dropped" the airplane in a field between houses. The airplane hit the ground and then skidded to a stop into a tree. The reported weather conditions at Brunswick, Maine, at the time of the accident was visual meteorological conditions with winds at 340 degrees at 19 knots gusting to 27 knots.

NTSB coding

View NTSB final report

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