Willow Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Edinboro, Pennsylvania 16412
Wednesday, June 26, 1996 14:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was on his first flight to this private airstip. During touchdown, the airplane landed hard and nosed over. According to the pilot, he 'spent about one-half hour locating the field . . . made a low pass to inspect runway, then flew pattern to land. I had been advised runway was uphill to the east, so landed with slight quartering tailwind. I was high on approach, so I side-slipped to lose altitude. When I kicked the airplane out of the slip. I had insufficient airspeed to totally arrest descent, and landed very hard and flipped over.' The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent nose over. The tailwind was a related factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/26/1996
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City EDINBORO
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 16412
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport WILLOW
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 97PA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1250
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 615
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 28 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1045
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:05AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3788V
NTSB Number NYC96LA132
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 140A
Aircraft Series Identifier 140A
Aircraft Serial Number 15209
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 10 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 34
Airframe Hours 3807
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MICHELE VIDA
Aircraft Owner Street Address 210 E. PENNVIEW STREET
Aircraft Owner City PITTSBURGH
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 15223
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 2G6
Departure City MEADVILLE
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code PN06
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:05AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 11
Runway Length 2100
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --