Plane Crash Reports 2003

2003 Plane Crash Report Result

Title: CESSNA 172N, N738QM, COLLIDED WITH A FENCE DURING THE LANDING ROL

Report Date: 04/21

Plane Crash Problem: On April 10, 2003, about 1100 central daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N738QM, collided with a fence during the landing roll at a private airstrip located on Circle Bar Ranch, Foxworth, Mississippi. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private-rated pilot and one passenger were not injured. The flight originated about 1030, from the Bobby L. Chain Municipal Airport, Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The pilot stated that the flight proceeded to the destination airport where he flew overflew the airstrip and observed the windsock which indicated the wind was from the northeast at approximately 10 knots. He entered the traffic pattern for runway 09, and twice performed a go-around following two approaches to the runway. Following the second approach, the wind was from the northwest and he entered the traffic pattern for a full-stop landing on runway 27. Full flaps were extended for landing which occurred about 1/4 down the 2,400 foot long asphalt runway, at an indicated airspeed between 55-60 knots. He held the nose landing gear off the ground and reported, "...played with the brakes", and "tapped them" between the time the nose landing gear contacted the runway and the midpoint of the runway where the airplane had decelerated aerodynamically to between 45-50 knots. At midpoint of the runway, with the throttle at idle and the flaps fully extended, the airplane accelerated to between 70 and 80 knots. He applied the brakes heavily and recognizing the airplane would not stop on the remaining runway. With obstructions past the departure end of the runway, he intentionally maneuvered the airplane off the left side of the runway onto grass in the belief that the grass would help slow the airplane. The airplane traveled through a barb wire fence and 4-foot shallow embankment, then onto a road where the airplane came to rest upright with the nose landing gear wheel assembly separated. The pilot further stated that at the point the airplane accelerated, the engine did not accelerate. He additionally stated there was no problem with the airplane's brakes. A witness provided a written statement to the FAA inspector-in-charge (FAA-IIC) reporting that the airplane touched down about midpoint of the runway. Preliminary examination of the runway by the FAA-IIC revealed the airplane departed the left side of the runway approximately 204 feet before the end of the runway. The airplane traveled approximately 492 feet where the airplane traveled through a barbed wire fence onto a private road.

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