Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary NYC94LA109

PRINCESS ANNE, MD, USA

Aircraft #1

N4828G

CESSNA 172N

Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT SHE THOUGHT THE GRASS STRIP WAS WET FROM A 'PREVIOUS RAIN,' AND UPON TOUCHDOWN THE AIRPLANE 'BOUNCED SLIGHTLY ONCE.' SHE FURTHER STATED THAT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY, AND THE PLANE WAS NOT STOPPING. THE PILOT ABORTED THE LANDING, AND THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE TOP OF A TREE. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT TWO WITNESSES SAW THE AIRPLANE INITIALLY LAND APPROXIMATELY HALFWAY DOWN THE 2500 FEET RUNWAY. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE GRASS WAS DRY AND THE RUNWAY WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. IT WAS ALSO REVEALED THAT THE PILOT DID NOT RAISE THE FLAPS AFTER ABORTING THE LANDING.

Factual Information

On July 4, 1994, about 1558 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N4828G, piloted by Ms. Patricia Lorraine, collided with a tree after an aborted landing at a private grass strip near, Princess Anne, Maryland. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was operated under 14 CFR 91. According to the pilot's statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, dated October 4, 1994, the pilot wrote that she thought the grass strip was wet from a "previous rain." She wrote: ...bounced slightly once...however on the ground the brakes would not work properly...the plane was not stopping and before hitting a tree at the end of the runway, I attempted a go-around...almost cleared the trees, but hit the top of one [tree]... According to FAA Inspector, Leo Kuneman's written statement, dated July 27, 1994, he talked to the State Police at the crash site. The State Police told Mr. Kuneman they had talked with two witnesses that said, "...the aircraft landed approximately half way down the runway, then attempted to do a go around." The FAA's investigation revealed that the grass strip was dry and in "excellent condition," the approach area was free of obstacles, the full weight of the airplane touched down on the runway, and the flaps were not retracted after the aborted landing. Mr. Kuneman wrote in his statement: We have determined that she did attempt a go around, but failed to raise the flaps, which markedly decreased the performance of the aircraft...by landing at the halfway point on the runway, the pilot decreased her ability to stop the aircraft on the initial landing.

Probable Cause and Findings

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO DO A GO-AROUND AND HER DELAY IN THE INITIATING OF AN ABORTED LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN HER FAILURE TO OUTCLIMB TREES DURING THE ABORTED LANDING.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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