Event CHI96LA062

Factual narrative

On December 26, 1995, at 2215 central standard time, a Cessna 172M, N172DA, operated by a private pilot collided with trees and the terrain while landing at the Excelsior Springs Memorial Airport, Excelsior Springs, Missouri, while on a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot received minor injuries and the passenger was seriously injured. The flight departed Jefferson, Missouri, at 2034 cst. The pilot stated that after departing Jefferson, Missouri, he flew off course and became disoriented. The pilot located an airport, but was unable to determine which airport it was. He stated he made three low passes over the runway in an attempt to determine its suitability for landing and that he did not see the wind sock. He reported that on the fourth pass, he touched down on the runway numbers and applied brakes. He reported the brakes did not slow the airplane so he "immediately applied power" and turned off the carburetor heat. He stated the airplane "jumped 60'" at which time he nosed the airplane down and retracted the flaps. He stated he was unaware of the trees which bordered the side and end of the runway. He stated that he banked the airplane to the right when he realized he was not going to clear the trees. The airplane contacted the trees and came to rest in a wooded area. The pilot was attempting the landing on runway 19 (2,000' x 47'). The pilot reported the last wind information he received from flight service reported winds from "330 degrees at 10 MPH." A weather observation taken approximately 45 minutes after the accident, at an airport 16 miles away reported winds from 350 degrees at 9 knots. A witness to the accident reported the airplane touched down near the end of the runway then it began to porpoise. In addition, he reported that the airplane was approximately 2/3 the way down the runway prior to hearing full power being applied. The pilot flew off course during the flight and became disoriented, and was attempting to land at an unfamiliar airport. He made three passes down the runway but was unable to see a wind sock. He stated he then landed on Runway 19 on the numbers and applied brakes; however, when the airplane did not slow down he applied full power to take off. The airplane became airborne and contacted trees near the end of the runway. A witness stated the airplane touched down then porpoised on the runway prior to taking off. The pilot reported the last wind information he received from flight service indicated winds from 330 degrees at 10 mph. The witness reported local winds at the time were from 350 degrees at 9 knots. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12