Frederick Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Frederick, Maryland 21701
Thursday, November 27, 2008 10:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The student pilot of the Cessna 172I stated that following an uneventful local flight, he returned to his home airport to practice takeoffs and landings. During the second approach, just above the runway, the pilot realized that the airplane was "low and slow," so he increased engine power. The airplane's descent rate did not change appreciably, and with the airplane drifting toward the left, the pilot decided to abort the landing. The pilot subsequently increased engine power to full, and kept the airplane's pitch attitude level. Shortly thereafter, the pilot heard the landing gear strike the top of the precision approach path indicator light box. The pilot attempted to "set the airplane down" and the nose landing gear struck the edge of the runway, collapsing it, and resulted in substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot did not report any mechanical anomalies associated with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot's delayed decision to abort the landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/27/2008
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Frederick
Event State MARYLAND
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 21701
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 392502N
Event Location Longitude 0772216W
Event Location Airport Frederick Municipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FDK
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.5
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 303
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1029 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID FDK
Elevation of weather observation facility 303
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.09
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 24823
NTSB Notification Source FAA Eastern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 19 2008 3:30PM
User who most recently changed record grer
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N35540
NTSB Number ERA09CA077
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172I
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17256821
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Mar 10 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 5861
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name SKY HI INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address C/O SCOT SHEALER
Aircraft Owner City FREDERICK
Aircraft Owner State MD
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 21703
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name SKY HI INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address C/O SCOT SHEALER
Operator City FREDERICK
Operator State MD
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 21703
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code FDK
Departure City Frederick
Departure State MD
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1020
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code FDK
Destination City Frederick
Destination State MD
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 19 2008 3:30PM
User who most recently changed record grer
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 23
Runway Length 5220
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --