Plattsburgh International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Plattsburgh, New York 12901
Monday, February 14, 2011 12:15 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The certified flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot reported that they were practicing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. During the second approach, the airplane's airspeed and altitude decreased more than they intended. The left wing contacted the runway resulting in substantial damage. The CFI took authority over the flight controls and landed the airplane. While taxiing to the ramp, they observed that the wind had increased more than reported. The recorded wind conditions at the airport, prior to and after the accident, were variable from 7 to 10 knots, with gusts to 17 knots. The CFI reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot's loss of directional control during the landing flare in gusting wind conditions and the certified flight instructor's delayed remedial action.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/14/2011
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1215
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Plattsburgh
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 12901
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator --
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
Event Location Latitude 443904N
Event Location Longitude 0732805W
Event Location Airport Plattsburgh International
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KPBG
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 234
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1153 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID PBG
Elevation of weather observation facility 234
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3900
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3900
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
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) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.24
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 28339
NTSB Notification Source Albany FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record May 3 2011 3:40PM
User who most recently changed record gots
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2593L
NTSB Number ERA11CA144
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 172H
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17255793
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jan 9 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name JUST PLANE NUTS FLYING CLUB LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City BURLINGTON
Aircraft Owner State VT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 05401
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Vermont Flight Academy, Inc
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Burlington
Operator State VT
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 05401
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code KBTV
Departure City Burlington
Departure State VT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1145
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code KBTV
Destination City Burlington
Destination State VT
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 4 2011 2:24PM
User who most recently changed record etcs
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length 11758
Runway Width 200
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --