Summary
On December 24, 2006, a Cessna 172N (N4811G) was involved in an incident near Cottonwood Fall, KS. All 4 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the fence. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inability to properly identify the runway environment, and the improper in-flight decision to initiate a go-around.
According to the pilot, the trip was uneventful. Upon arrival at her destination, the pilot was unable to differentiate between the dirt runway and an adjacent road. The pilot misidentified the road as the runway due to the location of the wind sock, and attempted a landing. Upon touchdown, the pilot decided the road was not the runway and initiated a go-around. The pilot reported that she hit and "broke through" a barbed wire fence adjacent to the road. The pilot continued with the go-around and landed on the runway without further incident. An examination of the airplane revealed the horizontal stabilizer was crushed aft, and the spar was bent. An examination of the remaining airplane system, conducted by the FAA, revealed no anomalies.
This incident is documented in NTSB report DEN07CA043. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N4811G.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the fence. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inability to properly identify the runway environment, and the improper in-flight decision to initiate a go-around.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
According to the pilot, the trip was uneventful. Upon arrival at her destination, the pilot was unable to differentiate between the dirt runway and an adjacent road. The pilot misidentified the road as the runway due to the location of the wind sock, and attempted a landing. Upon touchdown, the pilot decided the road was not the runway and initiated a go-around. The pilot reported that she hit and "broke through" a barbed wire fence adjacent to the road. The pilot continued with the go-around and landed on the runway without further incident. An examination of the airplane revealed the horizontal stabilizer was crushed aft, and the spar was bent. An examination of the remaining airplane system, conducted by the FAA, revealed no anomalies.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# DEN07CA043