On May 17, 2003, a Cessna 172N (registration N739NS) was involved in an aviation accident near Payson, AZ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, failure to retract the flaps during an aborted landing attempt, failure to maintain an adequate airspeed, and failure to maintain directional control. 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 an aborted landing after a bounced touchdown, the airplane drifted right of the runway and struck trees. The pilot left flaps extended and maintained a nose-high attitude; the stall warning sounded before impact.
Event Summary
The airplane bounced after touchdown during a landing attempt. The pilot initiated an aborted landing but left the flaps down and maintained the airplane in a nose-high attitude. The stall warning horn sounded, and the pilot responded by pushing the yoke forward. The airplane continued drifting to the right of the runway until it impacted trees north of the runway.
Pilot and Operational Factors
The pilot was unfamiliar with the airport. The pilot had not considered the element of a high-density altitude condition. The density altitude at the time of the accident was computed to be 8,098 feet.
Aborted Landing Procedure
The balked landing procedures in the Pilot Operating Handbook for the airplane call for the flaps to be immediately retracted to 20 degrees.
Notes
No other factual details were provided in the source material.
What happened in the 17 May 2003 Cessna 172N accident near Payson, AZ?
During an aborted landing after a bounced touchdown, the airplane drifted right of the runway and struck trees. The pilot left flaps extended and maintained a nose-high attitude; the stall warning sounded before impact.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 17 May 2003 involved a Cessna 172N, registration N739NS, at Payson, AZ.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
the pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, failure to retract the flaps during an aborted landing attempt, failure to maintain an adequate airspeed, and failure to maintain directional control. A factor in the accident was the high density altitude.
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