Cessna 172 accident near Fulton, New York, July 4, 2002
On July 4, 2002 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N6338F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fulton, New York (Oswego County Airport). It was an instructional 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 misaligned, hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 2002 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Fulton, New York · Oswego County 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
- N6338F · registry record · serial 17273195
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After a solo cross-country flight, the student pilot configured the airplane for landing. He deployed the flaps early and was flying a steeper approach angle than intended. He added power to arrest his descent, shallow his approach angle, and reach the touchdown zone of the runway. When he added power, the airplane ballooned. He then reduced the power, which caused the airplane to drop and land flat. When it touched down, the airplane was turned to the left and the nose was not aligned with the runway.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 23 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,933.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 14, 2002; 156.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SYR Syracuse NY at 2:00 pm
- Destination: FZY Fulton NY
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 24, 3,996 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from FZY
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.
Other NTSB records under N6338F 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.