Thursday, June 29, 2017

Cessna 172R Skyhawk, registered to SkyDance Aviation LLC and operated by Epix Services LLC, N2460A : Accident occurred June 28, 2017 at Emporia-Greensville Regional Airport (KEMV), Virginia

Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Richmond, Virginia

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board:  https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

http://registry.faa.gov/N2460A

Location: Emporia, VA
Accident Number: ERA17CA216
Date & Time: 06/28/2017, 1245 EDT
Registration: N2460A
Aircraft: CESSNA 172
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Abnormal runway contact
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Instructional 

The student pilot reported that the flight was his first solo cross-country, and the arrival and departure at his first airport was non-eventful. About 8 miles from the second airport, he listened to the airport's automatic weather observation system, which reported that the wind was coming from 020° at 5 knots. He entered the left traffic pattern for runway 34, and while on the downwind leg abeam the end of the runway, he reduced engine power to idle and lowered the wing flaps to 10°. He then turned onto a left base leg and maintained 70 knots, and lowered the wing flaps to 30° on final approach, maintaining an airspeed "between 50 and 54 knots". At the runway numbers he began to pull back on the control wheel to initiate the landing flare. The nose of the airplane then abruptly pitched up and to the left, which he believed felt like a gust of wind. He tried to correct by releasing back pressure on the control wheel, and using rudder and ailerons to move back to the right, but the airplane was still left of the runway centerline. Subsequently, the airplane bounced hard numerous times, the propeller struck the runway, and then departed the runway to the left. During the runway excursion, the nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane skid across a taxiway, eventually stopping in the grass. The fuselage and firewall were substantially damaged.

The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Review of the Pilot's Operating Handbook Indicated that airspeed for a normal landing should have been 60-70 knots with the wing flaps down. 

Student Pilot Information

Certificate: Student
Age: 56, Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 None
Last FAA Medical Exam: 04/19/2017
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:   64 hours (Total, all aircraft), 43 hours (Total, this make and model), 24 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 24 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Registration: N2460A
Model/Series: 172 R
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2000
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal; Utility
Serial Number: 17280932
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 06/05/2017, 100 Hour
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2299 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 8033.6 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: LYCOMING
ELT: C91A installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: IO-360-L2A
Registered Owner: SKYDANCE AVIATION LLC
Rated Power: 160 hp
Operator: EPIX SERVICES LLC
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Does Business As: Epix Aviation
Operator Designator Code: 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: EMV, 127 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1235 EDT
Direction from Accident Site:
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 3 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: / None
Wind Direction: 230°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.22 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 25°C / 8°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: PLYMOUTH, NC (PMZ)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Emporia, VA (EMV)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1207 EDT
Type of Airspace: Class G 

Airport Information

Airport: EMPORIA-GREENSVILLE RGNL (EMV)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 126 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 34
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 5010 ft / 100 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full Stop; Traffic Pattern 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude:  36.686944, -77.482778 (est)

1 comment:


  1. Sad to hear. I flew this bird as a rental a couple of years ago and it was well maintained and a good performer. 16/34 is 5000' x 100'.

    Why do people keep running off of runways?


    ReplyDelete