Zurik Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Marengo, Ohio 43334
Saturday, October 3, 1992 18:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS LANDING ON A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP SURROUNDED BY TREES. AS HE TURNED FINAL, HE REPORTED THE SUN WAS IN HIS EYES AND HE DRIFTED RIGHT OF COURSE, AND STRUCK A TREE WITH THE RIGHT WING. THE PILOT SAID HE LOST AIRSPEED AND WAS UNABLE TO FLARE. DURING THE TOUCHDOWN, THE NOSE WHEEL AND LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE ENGINE WAS TORN FROM ITS MOUNTS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT DUE TO SUNGLARE, WHICH RESULTED IN A TREE STRIKE ON FINAL APPROACH.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/3/1992
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1800
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MARENGO
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 43334
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport ZURIK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 0OH4
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 1155
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1750 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 190
Weather Observation Facility ID CMH
Elevation of weather observation facility 815
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 21
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2268
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 3 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47035
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:24PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3980F
NTSB Number NYC93LA003
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 172
Aircraft Series Identifier 172
Aircraft Serial Number 36880
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 25 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 67
Airframe Hours 3337
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FLYERS SERVICE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2052 AIRPORT ROAD
Aircraft Owner City DELAWARE
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 43015
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JOHN A. ZURIK
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 9824 STATE ROAD 656
Operator City MARENGO
Operator State OH
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 43334
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 6G4
Departure City MT. VERNON
Departure State OH
Departure Country
Departure Time 1745
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 26
Runway Length 1800
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --