Summary
On April 26, 2013, a Cessna 172P (N96178) was involved in an accident near Davis, WV. The accident resulted in 3 serious injuries. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot’s improper glidepath as he approached the runway and his subsequent delayed decision to abort the landing.
At the conclusion of the 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 was concerned by the houses located near the runway, so he approached higher and faster than was customary. The airplane subsequently touched down near the runway mid-point, and realizing that insufficient distance remained to stop the airplane, the pilot aborted the landing. During the 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 subsequently impacted the ground.
This accident is documented in NTSB report ERA13CA218. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N96178.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot’s improper glidepath as he approached the runway and his subsequent delayed decision to abort the landing.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
At the conclusion of the 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 was concerned by the houses located near the runway, so he approached higher and faster than was customary. The airplane subsequently touched down near the runway mid-point, and realizing that insufficient distance remained to stop the airplane, the pilot aborted the landing. During the 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 subsequently impacted the ground. 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.”
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA13CA218