On September 17, 1999, a Cessna 172K (registration N84697) was involved in an aviation accident near Mountain Home, AR. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to obtain runway alignment. Factors were the dark night conditions, an embankment, and the pilot's lack of total experience flying at night. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a night landing at a non-towered airport, a private pilot mistakenly landed on the grass between a runway and a parallel taxiway. During the go-around, the right main landing gear struck a taxiway crossover, causing the nose gear to collapse and the airplane to overturn.
Accident Details
A private pilot was conducting a cross-country flight under dark night conditions. Upon arrival at the destination airport, which was non-towered, the pilot confused the lighted runway with the lighted parallel taxiway and landed the airplane on the grass between them. After touching down, the pilot initiated a go-around. During the aborted landing, the right main landing gear struck the edge of a taxiway crossover. The impact caused the nose gear to collapse, and the airplane became airborne again. It traveled approximately 500 feet before impacting the ground in a nose-down attitude and overturning.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a private pilot certificate and had accumulated a total flight time of 99.5 hours. This included 5.3 hours of total night flight time, of which 2.1 hours were as pilot-in-command. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented by "more training on night time operations."
Frequently asked questions
What happened in the 17 Sept 1999 Cessna 172K accident near Mountain Home, AR?
During a night landing at a non-towered airport, a private pilot mistakenly landed on the grass between a runway and a parallel taxiway. During the go-around, the right main landing gear struck a taxiway crossover, causing the nose gear to collapse and the airplane to overturn.
Were there any fatalities in the 17 Sept 1999 Cessna 172K accident?
No fatalities were recorded in this accident.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 17 Sept 1999 involved a Cessna 172K, registration N84697, at Mountain Home, AR.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The pilot's failure to obtain runway alignment. Factors were the dark night conditions, an embankment, and the pilot's lack of total experience flying at night.
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