Summary
On October 18, 2007, a Cessna 172M (N92737) was involved in an incident near Rangeley, ME. All 2 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 aircraft control during the landing flare/touchdown. A factor contributing to the accident was the pilot's diverted attention.
On October 18, 2007, about 1521 eastern daylight time, a float-equipped Cessna 172M airplane, N92737, sustained substantial damage during a water landing on Rangeley Lake, Rangeley, Maine. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal local flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The commercial certificated pilot and sole passenger were not injured.
This incident is documented in NTSB report ANC08LA007. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N92737.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing flare/touchdown. A factor contributing to the accident was the pilot's diverted attention.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On October 18, 2007, about 1521 eastern daylight time, a float-equipped Cessna 172M airplane, N92737, sustained substantial damage during a water landing on Rangeley Lake, Rangeley, Maine. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal local flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The commercial certificated pilot and sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on October 24, the pilot said he was on short final, making a glassy water landing, when his attention was diverted by two military helicopters operating in close proximity to his intended landing area. He said during his moment of inattention, the airplane rolled left, struck the surface of the water with the left float, and nosed over. He said that during the accident both wings were damaged, and the right aileron was torn away. He noted that prior to the accident there were no mechanical problems with the airplane.
The airplane was not examined by the NTSB. The pilot did not submit a NTSB form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report as requested.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ANC08LA007