Cessna 172 accident near Perkasie, Pennsylvania, October 12, 2001
On October 12, 2001 at about 9:20 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N5385J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Perkasie, Pennsylvania (Pennridge 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 improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing. A factor was the sun glare.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 12, 2001 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Perkasie, Pennsylvania · Pennridge Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N5385J · registry record · serial 17273775
- 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 as he flared the airplane for landing, the sun glare caused the windshield to "turn completely white." The airplane sank "slightly faster than expected," touched down, and bounced, damaging the firewall. The pilot reported 110 hours of total flight experience, 2 hours of which were in make and model. He also reported no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane.
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: 110 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 34 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 26, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,694 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 29, 2001; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,307 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N10 Collegeville PA at 8:10 pm
- Destination: N70 Perkasie PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 4,215 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,000 ft; a few clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from NXX, 12 miles away
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.