Cessna 172M accident near Slatington, Pennsylvania, February 22, 1994
On February 22, 1994 at about 2:20 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N5272R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Slatington, Pennsylvania (Slatington Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALIGNMENT WITH THE RUNWAY. THE CROSSWIND WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 22, 1994 · about 2:20 pm local time
- Place
- Slatington, Pennsylvania · Slatington Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N5272R · registry record · serial 17263486
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE APPROACH TO THE 30-FOOT-WIDE RUNWAY (RUNWAY 01), THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO DRIFT RIGHT. THE PILOT STATED THAT BEFORE HE COULD CORRECT THE AIRPLANE'S FLIGHT PATH, THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT WHEEL IMPACTED A 3 TO 4-FOOT-HIGH SNOW BANK LOCATED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY (BOTH SIDES OF THE RUNWAY HAD SNOW BANKS). THE PILOT STATED THAT WHEN THE RIGHT WHEEL IMPACTED THE SNOW BANK, THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PILOT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO AIRFRAME OR ENGINE MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE WINDS WERE COMING FROM THE WEST AT A VELOCITY OF 5 TO 8 KNOTS.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 489 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 429 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,166 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 8, 1993; 101 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Richmond Pilots Association
The flight
- Departed from: LDJ Linden NJ at 1:30 pm
- Destination: 69N
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 1,950 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 5 knots, gusting 8
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 2:30 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.