NYC00LA243

Factual narrative

On August 29, 2000, at 1000 Eastern Daylight Time, a Cessna 172, N803SP, was substantially damaged during an aborted landing at the Chautauqua County/Dunkirk Airport (DKK), Dunkirk, New York. The certificated commercial pilot and three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight that originated at the Erie International Airport (ERI), Erie, Pennsylvania, and was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a telephone interview, the pilot stated that before landing at DKK, he contacted the airport unicom and requested an "airport advisory." He was instructed that Runway 33 was available for landing, and entered the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. After the airplane crossed the threshold of the runway, it "kept floating and floating," and the pilot observed "no decrease in airspeed." The airplane touched down about 1/3 of the length of the runway, and then bounced. Full power was applied and a go-around was initiated. The airplane then "ran out of runway, bounced on the grass, and flipped over nose-first." The pilot reported that he normally flies at 80 mph on final approach, and crosses the threshold at 70 mph. He could not recall what his airspeed was during the accident flight; however, he stated the airspeed was "close to his normal numbers." The pilot stated that his "delayed go-around procedure" contributed to the accident. In a subsequent written statement, the pilot reported he extended 20 degrees of flaps on final, his final approach was "long" and his final approach speed was higher than normal. A statement was provided by the operator, which summarized observations made by the passengers on board the airplane. They stated: "The first touchdown was beyond the intersection. Impact was hard and aircraft bounced. Second touchdown also bounced. Pilot added low power to assist in arresting 'porposing.' Upon final touchdown, the pilot judged insufficient runway remained to stop, and rejected the landing, initiating a go-around. The pilot positioned the flap handle in the fully retracted position and advanced full throttle. The aircraft rolled off the end of the runway, skipped part way across a drainage ditch and impacted the opposite side of the drainage ditch with the nose gear. The aircraft continued on basically a straight path another 100 feet...and then nosed over and came to rest inverted approximately 250 feet from the end of the runway aligned with and approximately 30 west of the runway centerline." According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the airplane incurred substantially damage to the vertical stabilizer, empannage, and both wings. Additionally, the engine was broken off the firewall. At 0953, the winds were reported at DKK as variable, at 5 knots. Runway 33 was a 4,000 foot long, 100 foot wide asphalt runway. The pilot flew an approach to Runway 33, a 4,000 foot long asphalt runway. On final approach, the pilot added 20 degrees of flaps and noticed his airspeed was higher than normal. The airplane touched down about 1/3 of the length of the runway and bounced twice. When the pilot realized there was not sufficient runway to stop the airplane, he applied full power, retracted the flaps, and initiated a 'go-around'. The aircraft proceeded off the runway, and nosed over about 250 feet from the departure end of the runway. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12