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NTSB Report

September 21, 2002 · Cessna 172N · N737TG

Bumpass, VA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 21, 2002
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Bumpass, VA
Aircraft
Cessna 172N
Tail Number
N737TG
Operator
Quantico Marine Flying Club
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
IAD02LA096

According to the private pilot, he entered a left-hand traffic pattern in preparation for a landing. As he turned the airplane onto the final approach course, he lowered the flaps to the full-down position, and a wind gust pushed it to the left. The pilot realigned the airplane with the runway for the remainder of the approach. During the landing flare, a wind gust again pushed the airplane off course to the left. The runway was 25 feet wide, and the left main landing gear touched down off the landing surface, and caught a ridge. The ridge descended into a ditch, and despite the pilot's correction with right rudder and brake, the airplane continued to the left. The left wing struck a tree, and the airplane spun around, then descended to the bottom of the ditch. Winds, recorded at an airport 10 nautical miles to the northwest, about 8 minutes before the accident, were from 80 degrees left of the runway, at 6 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing. A factor was the narrow runway width.

Full Narrative

On September 21, 2002, at 1330 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N737TG, was substantially damaged during a landing at Lake Anna Airport (7W4), Bumpass, Virginia. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The flight originated at Tappahannock Municipal Airport (W79), Tappahannock, Virginia, at 1250, and was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, the airplane was based at Shannon Airport (EZF), Fredericksburg, Virginia, and the purpose of the flight was to practice touch and go landings at some of the area airports, then return to Shannon. The pilot flew to Tappahannock Airport, performed a touch and go landing, then determined that he had time for one more stop. He reviewed his sectional aeronautical chart, and decided to fly to Lake Anna Airport. Upon arrival, the pilot entered a left-hand traffic pattern for landing on runway 26. As he turned the airplane onto the final approach course, he lowered the flaps to the full-down position, and a wind gust pushed the airplane off course to the left. The pilot realigned the airplane with the runway for the remainder of the approach. During the landing flare, a wind gust again pushed him off course to the left. According to the pilot: "As I approached the runway, I was maintaining approximately 65 knots airspeed, I reached the flare, and just below the flare and just before touchdown, a crosswind pushed me well left of the [runway] centerline." The pilot further stated that the runway was "extremely" narrow, and that the left landing gear touched down off the landing surface, and caught on a "ridge". The ridge descended into a ditch, and despite his correction with right rudder and brake, the airplane continued to the left. The left wing struck a tree, the airplane spun around, then descended to the bottom of the ditch. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine land. He reported 167 hours of flight experience, all of which was in the Cessna 172. He reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The runway at the Lake Anna Airport was 2,560 feet long and 25 feet wide. The pilot reported that he had never been to the airport, and had never landed on a runway that narrow. The weather recorded at 1322, at Louisa County Airport (LKU), Louisa, Virginia, about 10 nautical miles to the northwest, included winds from 180 degrees at 6 knots.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:30 EDT
Nearest AirportLAKEANNA (0nm)
Runway26
Runway Length2560 ft
Runway Width25 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172N
Tail NumberN737TG
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorQuantico Marine Flying Club
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-HZAD · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 35 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind180° @ 6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 7500 ft
Altimeter29.98 inHg
Observation Time17:22
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data