Cessna 172S accident near Franconia, New Hampshire, September 25, 2010
On September 25, 2010 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172S, registered N5295Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Franconia, New Hampshire (Franconia 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 delay in initiating a go-around, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a fence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 25, 2010 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Franconia, New Hampshire · Franconia Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172S · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N5295Y · no longer on the register · serial 172S9236
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to fly his relative in the traffic pattern. Shortly after takeoff from runway 36, he remained in the traffic pattern and noticed personnel associated with gliders setting up for launches using runway 18. He was informed that the wind had shifted and opted to land on runway 18. The pilot reported that he made a higher approach than normal due to a glider being positioned at the threshold of runway 18. During landing, the wind shifted and he recognized that the airplane was not slowing. He initiated a go-around and just as the airplane was clearing a fence at the departure end of the runway, it encountered a downdraft and a gust. Despite the pilot applying aft elevator control, the airplane collided with the fence. The pilot continued the go-around procedure and looked outside the airplane noticing damage to a wheel pant; he thought the airplane appeared to be flying normally. Following an uneventful landing on runway 36, the pilot secured the airplane and inspected it for damage. The leading edges of both horizontal stabilizers, the bottom side of the left horizontal stabilizer, and the leading edge of the left elevator exhibited damage.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 30,610 hours in all; 10,000 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 30,500 as pilot in command; 29,400 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 22, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,932 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 10, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air America LLC
The flight
- Departed from: 1B5 Franconia NH at 1:55 pm
- Destination: 1B5 Franconia NH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,305 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,100 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.72 inHg
- Observation at 1:52 pm from HIE, 14 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.
Other NTSB records under N5295Y the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.