No fatalities

Private Pilot Overruns Runway After Landing Long With Excess Speed

Factoryville, PA, United States

On July 20, 2017, a CESSNA 172 N was involved in an aviation accident near Factoryville, PA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point, which resulted in a runway overrun. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

A private pilot on his first solo flight after a flight review landed long on a 2,400-ft runway with excess airspeed and a tailwind, overrunning into brush and damaging the engine firewall.

Event Description

A private pilot experienced a runway overrun during landing at an airport. The pilot reported that after completing the traffic pattern, he touched down at the midpoint of the 2,400-foot runway with 10 knots of excess airspeed and a slight tailwind. Despite applying maximum braking, the airplane was unable to stop before reaching the departure end of the runway. It subsequently struck dense brush, resulting in substantial damage to the engine firewall.

Pilot Report

The pilot stated that he had recently returned to flying after a lengthy period of inactivity. The flight was his first solo flight after completing a comprehensive flight review. He further reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Damage

The collision with dense brush caused substantial damage to the engine firewall. No other damage was reported.

Probable Cause

The investigation did not identify a specific probable cause. The pilot's actions and conditions were reported, but no causal factors were stated in the source.

Contributing factors

Causes

Descent/approach/glide path — Not attained/maintainedPilot

Other contributing factors

Contributed to outcome

All Cessna 172 accidents →

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 20 Jul 2017 CESSNA 172 N accident near Factoryville, PA?

A private pilot on his first solo flight after a flight review landed long on a 2,400-ft runway with excess airspeed and a tailwind, overrunning into brush and damaging the engine firewall.

Were there any fatalities in the 20 Jul 2017 CESSNA 172 N accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 20 Jul 2017 involved a CESSNA 172 N, at Factoryville, PA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point, which resulted in a runway overrun.