Cherry Ridge Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Honesdale, Pennsylvania 18431
Monday, October 10, 2011 11:55 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that, while on final approach to the 2,420-foot-long, dry, asphalt runway with the flaps set to 30 degrees (full down), the airplane was a little too fast at 85 to 90 mph, instead of 70 mph. He stated that he did not perceive that the airplane floated over the runway but that, after touchdown, he realized there was insufficient runway remaining to stop. He added power to go around, raised the flaps incrementally, and continued ahead, but the airplane collided with trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot stated that there was nothing mechanically wrong with the airplane and that the accident could have been avoided by being on speed.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s excessive airspeed during final approach and his delayed decision to abort the landing, resulting in the in-flight collision with trees during the go-around.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/10/2011
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1155
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Honesdale
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 18431
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 413055N
Event Location Longitude 0751505W
Event Location Airport Cherry Ridge Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID N30
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 1357
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1235 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 74
Weather Observation Facility ID MSV
Elevation of weather observation facility 1403
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 23
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
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) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.29
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) 29451
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 28 2011 2:15PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N34218
NTSB Number ERA12CA020
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 177B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17701712
Certified Max Gross Weight 2500
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 Nov 1 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2222
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name GILBERT JEFFREY S
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City ROCK HILL
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 12775-7007
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name GILBERT JEFFREY S
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City ROCK HILL
Operator State NY
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 12775-7007
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MSV
Departure City Monticello
Departure State NY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1140
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code N30
Destination City Honesdale
Destination State PA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 28 2011 2:15PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 2420
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --