Batavia, NY, USA
N369WP
Cessna 172E
The pilot was landing on runway 10, a 4,403-foot long, 100-foot wide runway. Runway 10 consisted of asphalt, with some patches of ice. The pilot approached the runway fast, and landed about halfway down the runway. The tailwheel airplane began to swerve, and the pilot applied left rudder to prevent a ground loop. However, the airplane traveled off the left side of the runway, struck a snow bank, and came to rest inverted. According to the pilot and weather reports at airports near the accident site, the airplane landed with a left quartering tailwind.
On February 15, 2004, about 1650 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172E, N369WP, was substantially damaged while landing at Genesee County Airport (GVQ), Batavia, New York. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed Buffalo Airport (9G0), Buffalo, New York. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot's written statement, he landed on runway 10, a 4,403-foot long, 100-foot wide, asphalt runway. After touchdown, the tailwheel airplane encountered icy patches on the runway. The pilot subsequently lost control of the aircraft, struck a snow bank, and came to rest inverted. During an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot stated that he approached the runway fast, and landed about halfway down the runway. The airplane began to swerve, and the pilot applied left rudder to prevent a ground loop. However, the airplane traveled off the left side of the runway, struck a snow bank, and came to rest inverted. The FAA inspector reported that there were some patches of ice on the runway. The pilot stated that the wind at GVQ was from 350 degrees at 7 knots. The reported wind at an airport approximately 25 miles west of the accident site, at 1654, was from 330 degrees at 8 knots. The reported wind at an airport approximately 25 miles east of the accident site, at 1654, was from 320 degrees at 5 knots.
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing. Factors were a tailwind and icy runway.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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