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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

September 29, 1995 · Cessna 172RG · N9497B

Pittsburgh, PA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 29, 1995
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Pittsburgh, PA
Aircraft
Cessna 172RG
Tail Number
N9497B
Operator
William John Alexander
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC95LA227

THE PILOT WAS LANDING ON RUNWAY 23, A 2534 FOOT LONG RUNWAY, WHICH WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A VISUAL APPROACH SLOPE INDICATOR. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN APPROXIMATELY 800 FEET FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY THEN FLOATED AND TOUCHED DOWN APPROXIMATELY 400 FEET FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT APPLIED HEAVY BRAKING; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY DOWN AN EMBANKMENT IMPACTING A TRAILER AND BUILDING. ADDITIONALLY, THE PILOT STATED, '...I LANDED FAST...', AND THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES. THE WINDS WERE REPORTED AS CALM.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's failure to obtain the proper touchdown point and excessive airspeed which resulted in an overrun and a subsequent collision with a trailer off the departure end of the runway.

Full Narrative

On September 28, 1995, about 2015 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172RG, N9497B, was substantially damaged when it overran the runway during the landing, at the Allegheny County Airport, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The personal flight departed from Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania about 1815 destined for Pittsburgh. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated: ...I landed a little fast....I applied hard brakes....I decided that I was going too slow to go around....I applied harder brakes....I realized I would not stop on the runway....After leaving the runway, I felt the plane slowly fall and flutter. We immediately hit a building.... Additionally, under the section of mechanical malfunction failure, the pilot checked "NO". The FAA Inspector's statement stated: ...The Allegheny Tower reported the aircraft landed long on runway 23 near Alpha taxiway with approximately 800 feet remaining from the end of the runway.... ...During an on site inspection of the accident we found initial tire marks at the north end of taxiway Alpha, then the aircraft floated before ground contact at approximately 400 feet of runway remaining, with skid marks continuing down the runway moving to the right of the center line of runway 23. Then leaving the runway when the aircraft fell down a 50 foot hill, landing with the nose striking a small out-building, the left wing striking a trailer, and the right wing striking the hillside on the right side.... According to the Airport Facility Directory runway 23 was a 2534 foot long runway, and there was no visual approach slope indicator. Additionally, at the time of the accident, the winds were reported as calm.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time20:15 EDT
Nearest AirportAllegheny County (0nm)
Runway23
Runway Length2534 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172RG
Tail NumberN9497B
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorWilliam John Alexander
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-F1A6 · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 46 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind100° @ 4 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point68 F / 48
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time23:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data