Cessna 172P accident near Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, August 8, 2004
On August 8, 2004 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N4599D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. 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 student pilot's improper flare and improper recover from a bounced landing. Factors in this accident were the crosswind condition and the partial failure of the airplane's transceiver, as reported by the pilot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 8, 2004 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N4599D · no longer on the register · serial 172722311
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot contacted air traffic control (ATC), and was instructed to enter a right downwind for runway 4, a 7,501-foot-long, 150-foot-wide, asphalt runway. Shortly thereafter, the airplane's radio's stopped working. The student pilot attempted to troubleshoot the problem, and was able to receive, but not transmit over the radio. He elected to land on runway 4, however, he overheard ATC clear another airplane to land, that was on a 5 mile final approach. The student pilot stated that he was "nervous" about the other airplane, turned a very early base leg, and approached "high and fast." The airplane contacted the runway hard, and began to bounce. It then departed the right side of the runway. Examination of the airplane, which included a radio check, did not reveal any discrepancies. A weather observation taken at the airport, about the time of the accident, included winds from 340 degrees at 8 knots.
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: 73 hours in all; 73 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 11 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,596 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 4, 2004; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MSV Monticello NY
- Destination: AVP Wilkes-Barre PA
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 6:54 pm from AVP
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 N4599D 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.