Cessna 172N accident near Edgartown, Massachusetts, June 23, 2005
On June 23, 2005 at about 5:40 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N5118D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Edgartown, Massachusetts (Katama Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during a go-around, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent impact with terrain. [THIS REPORT WAS MODIFIED ON JUNE 10, 2008]
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 2005 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Edgartown, Massachusetts · Katama Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N5118D · registry record · serial 17272426
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
[ THIS REPORT WAS MODIFIED ON JUNE 10, 2008 ] The pilot of a red Waco biplane was back-taxiing on runway 3, a 3,700-foot-long, 50-foot-wide, turf runway. At the same time, a group of airplanes were approaching the airport as part of a pre-arranged Deaf Pilots Association fly-in. The pilot of the Waco stated that prior to the back-taxi he announced his intentions on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF), did not hear a response, and did not observe any traffic in the area. About one-third down the runway, the pilot of the Waco observed an airplane on final approach for runway 3. The pilot of the Waco attempted to contact the airplane on final approach, but heard no response. The pilot of the Waco then taxied off the runway and waited until the landing airplane rolled past him. The pilot of the Waco announced his intentions on the CTAF, heard no response, and resumed the back-taxi on runway 3. About two-thirds down the runway, he observed another airplane approaching runway 6, and he again cleared runway 3 in case the landing pilot decided to land on runway 3. The second airplane subsequently landed on runway 6. The pilot of the Waco attempted to contact both pilots that landed, but heard no response. The pilot of the Waco again announced his intentions on the CTAF, heard no response, and resumed the back-taxi on runway 3. As the Waco approached the runway threshold, the accident airplane was on short final approach for runway 3, and began a go-around. During the go-around, the nose pitched up, the airplane stalled to the left, and impacted the runway. A passenger in the accident airplane reported that the accident airplane and Waco were nose to nose near the runway threshold. Another passenger in the accident airplane reported that the accident pilot panicked at the sight of the Waco. The pilot of the accident airplane was hearing impaired, and could not hear the stall warning horn.
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: student
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 660 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 450 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,810 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2005; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PYM Plymouth MA at 5:00 pm
- Destination: 1B2 Edgartown MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 3,700 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from MVY, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC05LA106.