Cessna 172S N5295Y

Summary

On 25 September 2010 at about 14:00 local time, a Cessna 172S registered N5295Y, operated by Air America LLC, was involved in an accident near Franconia, New Hampshire, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 September 2010 at 14:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Franconia, New Hampshire, United States

Nearest airport

Franconia Airport (1B5)

Coordinates

44.1947, -71.7506

Aircraft

Cessna 172S

Registration

N5295Y

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Air America LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Franconia → Franconia

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA10CA505

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s delay in initiating a go-around, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a fence.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to fly his relative in the traffic pattern. Shortly after takeoff from runway 36, he remained in the traffic pattern and noticed personnel associated with gliders setting up for launches using runway 18. He was informed that the wind had shifted and opted to land on runway 18. The pilot reported that he made a higher approach than normal due to a glider being positioned at the threshold of runway 18. During landing, the wind shifted and he recognized that the airplane was not slowing. He initiated a go-around and just as the airplane was clearing a fence at the departure end of the runway, it encountered a downdraft and a gust. Despite the pilot applying aft elevator control, the airplane collided with the fence. The pilot continued the go-around procedure and looked outside the airplane noticing damage to a wheel pant; he thought the airplane appeared to be flying normally. Following an uneventful landing on runway 36, the pilot secured the airplane and inspected it for damage. The leading edges of both horizontal stabilizers, the bottom side of the left horizontal stabilizer, and the leading edge of the left elevator exhibited damage.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.