Cessna 172P N65632

Summary

On 11 August 1996 at about 15:50 local time, a Cessna 172P registered N65632 was involved in an accident near Summersville, West Virginia, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 August 1996 at 15:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Summersville, West Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Summersville (Rader Fld) (I07)

Coordinates

38.2808, -80.8408

Aircraft

Cessna 172P

Registration

N65632

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Milton → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD96FA132

3 people died.

The pilot's improper flare, his delay in aborting a landing, and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in a bounced landing and a stall during climb out in an attempt to avoid collision with trees.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight was on climb out from an aborted landing on runway 04 at Summerville Airport when the airplane descended and struck the ground. According to a witness, during the first approach to land on the 3000 foot long runway, the pilot performed steep, tight turns. On the first landing attempt, the airplane bounced several times and during the aborted landing, the airplane nearly struck a building. The second approach to land was also steep and tight. The airplane again bounced several times and the landing was also aborted. According to witnesses, the airplane did not climb higher than tree-top level on climb out, turned steeply to the crosswind leg, stalled and entered the trees nose down. Another witness reported the engine was running until the ground impact occurred. The airplane struck the ground in a nose down attitude and was consumed in a post crash fire. Examination of the airplane did not disclose evidence of mechanical malfunction. The pilot obtained a private pilot certificate a month before the accident date.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.