Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary MIA99LA259

MOONTOWN, AL, USA

Aircraft #1

N734TC

Cessna 172N

Analysis

After landing on runway 27, during a touch and go landing, the pilot stated there was not enough runway remaining to takeoff again. He aborted the takeoff, overran the runway, collided with a ditch, and nosed over. The wind at the Huntsville Airport, located about 16 miles southwest of the accident site, 27 minutes before the accident, were from 150 degrees at 9 knots.

Factual Information

On September 19, 1999, about 1523 central daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N734TC, registered to an individual, and operated by Rocket Aviation, nosed over after over running the runway during landing at Moontown Airport, Moontown, Alabama, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the private-rated pilot and three passengers were not injured. The flight originated from Meridianville, Alabama, the same day, about 1500. The pilot stated that when he did not receive a response on the unicom frequency at Moontown Airport as to what the active runway was, he flew over the airport and determined that he would land on runway 27. He touched down on runway 27 at normal landing speed and realized he did not have enough runway to take off again. He tried to stop, but the aircraft overran the runway, collided with a ditch, and nosed over.

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's decision to land on a runway with a quartering tailwind, his failure to obtain the proper touchdown point on the runway, and his delay in aborting the takeoff phase of a touch and go landing, resulting in the aircraft overrunning the runway, colliding with a ditch, and nosing over.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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