NEWRY, PA, USA
N4776E
Cessna 172N
During the takeoff roll, the pilot observed that the airspeed indicator was inoperative. However, he said that by the time he realized the problem, the airplane was too far down the runway to abort the takeoff. He continued the takeoff and flew about 1.2 hours before returning to landing. The airplane was high and fast during the first approach to land, and the pilot decided to go-around. After the second approach, the airplane touched down about half way down the 3,415 foot long runway. The pilot stated that he applied full brakes; however, the airplane was too fast and continued off the departure end of the runway. Subsequently, it encountered rough terrain and was damaged. Examination of the airplane revealed that the pitot tube was blocked with a sediment.
On June 28, 1996, about 1150 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N4776E, was substantially damaged when it overran the runway during the landing at the Blue Knob Valley Airport, Newry, Pennsylvania. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated, in the NTSB form 6120.1/2: "My son and I arrived at the airport and I preflighted the airplane. We taxied to the run-up area for runway 29. I "ran-up" the engine, checked the gauges and set the flight instruments and radio. We cleared for take off and during the take-off roll, I noticed the airspeed was not working properly. It bounced a few times and then quit. By this time I was too far down the runway to abort the takeoff. I took off and we flew locally for 1.2 hours. We flew back to the airport to land. I was concerned about coming in too slow and stalling out. I use 10 [degrees] flaps for a final but was too high and fast to touch down. I made a go around and used 20 [degrees] flaps for final. I touched down about 1/3 to 1/2 down the runway, applied full brakes but was still going too fast and ran off the end of the runway." Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector revealed sediment clogged the pitot tube. According to the Airport Facility Directory, runway 29 was a 3,415 foot long, 92 foot wide, dirt runway with no obstructions. The weather at a nearby airport was reported as ceiling 3,500 broken; visibility 12 miles; temperature 80 degrees F; dewpoint 60 degrees F; altimeter 30.20" Hg; wind from 330 degrees at 7 knots. According to the Cessna 172 Pilot Operating Handbook, for the above conditions, the takeoff and landing distances were approximately 1,300 and 900 feet respectively.
failure of the pilot to identify the inoperative airspeed indication and abort the takeoff, while there was sufficient runway remaining; excessive speed during the approach/landing; and the pilot's failure to perform a go-around after not attaining a proper touchdown point during the landing. A factor relating to the accident was: the blocked pitot tube, which resulted in an inoperative airspeed indicator.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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