Cessna 172N accident near Wadsworth, Ohio, September 22, 2011
On September 22, 2011 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N9348E, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Wadsworth, Ohio (Wadsworth Skypark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's misjudgment of his speed and distance, which resulted in an overrun.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 22, 2011 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Wadsworth, Ohio · Wadsworth Skypark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N9348E · no longer on the register · serial 17272233
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the airplane bounced upon touchdown before the halfway marker on the runway. He recovered from the bounce and applied heavy braking, and the airplane began to veer to the left. The pilot released the left brake and applied more right brake to straighten the airplane. The airplane continued off the end of the runway where it contacted a ditch, separating the nose gear, which resulted in substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot recently transitioned to this airplane and stated that he did not realize that the airspeed indicator was in knots and not miles per hour, which resulted in a faster than normal approach speed. The pilot stated he did not check the weather prior to landing and he landed with a 3-knot quartering tailwind.
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
What happened, in order
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience w/ equipment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Sloped/uneven › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 88 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 28 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Skypark INC
The flight
- Departed from: MFD Mansfield OH at 11:00 pm
- Destination: 15G Wadsworth OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 2,410 ft by 37 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,900 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 pm from BJJ, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.