Cessna 172P N65630

Summary

On 5 April 2001 at about 19:57 local time, a Cessna 172P registered N65630 was involved in an accident near Williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 April 2001 at 19:57

Classification

Accident

Location

Williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Williamsport Regional (IPT)

Coordinates

41.2386, -76.9342

Aircraft

Cessna 172P

Registration

N65630

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Reading → Williamsport

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD01LA040

3 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's premature raising of flaps resulting in his failure to establish a climb and his failure to maintain directional control.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

During landing, the airplane touched down and drifted right towards the infield. The pilot aborted the landing, but the airplane did not climb, and departed the left side of the runway. The stall warning horn sounded, the airplane struck a fence, and then came to rest on a railroad bed. The pilot stated that when he aborted the landing, he retracted the flaps completely from their fully deployed, 30-degree position. The pilot reported that the airplane reached a height of no more than 10 - 15 feet after he applied full throttle. According to the airplane's Information Manual, the flaps are to be retracted incrementally; to the 10-degree position until obstacles are cleared, and not fully retracted until the airplane reaches a safe altitude and 60 knots indicated airspeed. According to the FAA Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge: "The effect of torque increases in direct proportion to engine power, airspeed, and airplane attitude. If the power setting is high, the airspeed slow, and the angle of attack high, the effect of torque is greater. During takeoffs and climbs, when the effect of torque is most pronounced, the pilot must apply sufficient right rudder pressure to counteract the left-turning tendency and maintain a straight takeoff path."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.