Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ATTAIN A PROPER TOUCHDOWN, AT THE PROPER SPEED WHICH RESULTED IN AN OVERRUN AND CONTACT WITH A FENCE. A FACTOR WAS THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO FOLLOW HIS INITIAL AIR TRAFFIC INSTRUCTIONS.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On March 17, 1994, at 1930 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172RG, N9585B, owned and operated by MAC DAN Aviation of Fairfield, New Jersey, overran the runway and struck a fence. The airplane received substantial damage. One passenger received minor injuries. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91.
When interviewed after the accident, the pilot said he landed long, without flaps, carried extra power, and floated. He said his touchdown speed was 85 knots.
Skid marks were found which started near the departure end of runway 9 and continued to the departure end which measured 500 feet. The skid marks continued across grass and through a fence which measured 325 feet from the departure end of runway 9. The skid marks then went up an embankment and continued onto a 4 lane roadway where the airplane was found with collapsed landing gear, 375 feet from the departure end of runway 9.
According to the Airport/Facility Directory, runway 4 is 4553 feet long and 80 feet wide, runway 9 is 3721 feet long, 75 feet wide, both had an asphalt surface.
A review of the air/ground transcript supplied by the Caldwell Air Traffic Control Tower revealed the pilot was initially cleared for a left crosswind entry for runway 4 which was acknowledged. The local controller then said, "...Cutlass eight five bravo you appear to be lined for runway niner, ah, if you want runway niner you're cleared to land, winds, ah, three three zero at eight." The pilot replied, "Eight five bravo apologize about that sir, cleared to land runway niner."
The pilot held a private pilot certificate. He had a total time of 360 hours with 140 hours in the Cessna 172RG. In addition, according to the pilot's log book, his last 2 night flights occurred on November 4, 1993, with a duration of 1.1 hours and with 2 landings, and on September 19, 1993, with a duration of 2.5 hours and with 2 landings.
The pilot failed to complete the NTSB form 6120.1/2 as required.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# NYC94LA063