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Accidents · NTSB ERA16LA224 · Final report

Cessna 172P accident near Honesdale, Pennsylvania, June 20, 2016

On June 20, 2016 at about 6:45 pm local time, a 1981 Cessna 172P, registered N54285, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Honesdale, Pennsylvania (Cherry Ridge airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while departing in a heavily loaded airplane at high density altitude, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall, landing hard, and overrunning the runway.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
June 20, 2016 · about 6:45 pm local time
Place
Honesdale, Pennsylvania · Cherry Ridge · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Cessna 172P P, built 1981 · all 172Ps on the register
Registration
N54285 · registry record · serial 17274945
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

The private pilot reported that the airplane was loaded near its maximum allowable gross weight before departure from the airport. The calculated density altitude was 3,297 ft mean sea level. The pilot stated that, after becoming airborne and climbing to 30 to 40 ft above ground level (agl), he "felt that the airplane was not climbing." The pilot subsequently closed the throttle and attempted to land on the remaining runway. A review of surveillance video showed the wings of the airplane rocking immediately after liftoff at the mid-point of the runway, which was about 3,000 ft long. The video showed that the airplane's pitch attitude increased, but the airplane never climbed more than about 15 ft agl before it fell hard to the runway on all three landing gear, consistent with an aerodynamic stall. The airplane bounced several times, settled onto the runway with about 500 ft remaining, then overran the right side of the runway at the departure end. Performance data from the pilot's operating handbook indicated that, given the conditions present at the time of the accident, the airplane's landing distance was about 610 ft. Postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the airplane's wings; there was no evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomalies of the airframe or engine. A postaccident engine run also revealed no anomalies.

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

  1. Aerodynamic stall/spin during takeoff defining event
  2. Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)

The NTSB's findings

  • cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
  • Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Effect on operation

Pilot

  • Certificate: private
  • Ratings: single-engine land
  • Flight time: 878 hours in all; 878 in this make and model
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: left
  • Injury: no injuries

Co-pilot

  • Certificate: private
  • Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
  • Flight time: 4,200 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: rgt
  • Injury: no injuries

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 9,703.9 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, May 26, 2016
  • Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 4,944 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: N30 Honesdale PA at 6:45 pm
  • Destination: MMU Morristown NJ
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 18, 2,986 ft by 50 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 280° at 10 knots
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
  • Observation at 6:55 pm from KMSV, 23 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew2
Passengers1

Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report

6 documents, released by the NTSB on May 22, 2017. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.

The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.

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.