On July 20, 1996, a Cessna 172 (registration N7101T) was involved in an aviation accident near Emily, MN. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot misjudged his altitude and distance to the runway on final approach, and he failed to maintain obstacle clearance during landing. A factor relating to the accident was: the parked car. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
During landing, a plane's left main landing gear struck a parked stock car on a grass airstrip access road, leading to a hard landing, gear collapse, and subsequent skid into a tree.
Accident Overview
During the landing sequence, the airplane's left main landing gear made contact with the roof of a stock car that had been parked on the access road to a grass airstrip. Following the impact with the car, the airplane experienced a hard landing, resulting in the collapse of the landing gear. The aircraft then skidded off the runway and collided with a tree.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported observing automobiles parked on the grass airstrip and believed there was sufficient room to land. He also noted that the runway was lined with trees and that the airplane dropped "quite quickly" once it descended below the tree line. The entire length of the 2,000-foot grass runway was available beyond the location where the automobiles were parked.
What happened in the 20 Jul 1996 Cessna 172 accident near Emily, MN?
During landing, a plane's left main landing gear struck a parked stock car on a grass airstrip access road, leading to a hard landing, gear collapse, and subsequent skid into a tree.
Were there any fatalities in the 20 Jul 1996 Cessna 172 accident?
No fatalities were recorded in this accident.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 20 Jul 1996 involved a Cessna 172, registration N7101T, at Emily, MN.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
the pilot misjudged his altitude and distance to the runway on final approach, and he failed to maintain obstacle clearance during landing. A factor relating to the accident was: the parked car.
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