Event NYC04LA169

Factual narrative

On July 17, 2004, about 1315 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N262MC, was substantially damaged during a go-around at Vansant Airport (9N1), Erwinna, Pennsylvania. The certificated student pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed Doylestown Airport (DYL), Doylestown, Pennsylvania. No flight plan was filed for the solo instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the student pilot's written statement, he originally departed Trenton Mercer Airport (TTN), Trenton, New Jersey. The student pilot flew to Doylestown Airport, and performed three landings. He then flew to Vansant Airport, to practice low approaches and go-arounds. The student pilot did not have a logbook endorsement for Vansant Airport, and did not plan on actually landing there. The student pilot thought he was making approaches to runway 25, a 3,058-foot-long, 120-foot-wide, turf runway. However, he was actually making approaches to runway 7; opposite the flow of traffic. During the third approach, while the airplane was on a short final for runway 7, the student pilot observed another airplane on final approach for runway 25. Fearing a collision, the student pilot banked the airplane left and initiated a climb. During the maneuver, he forgot to increase throttle and partially retract the flaps. The airplane subsequently stalled and descended straight down. The airplane impacted a grass area to the left of runway 7, and came to rest upright. Review a Cessna 172N Information Manual revealed: "BALKED LANDING 1. Throttle -- FULL OPEN. 2. Carburetor Heat -- COLD. 3. Wing Flaps -- 20 degrees (immediately). 4. Climb Speed -- 55 KIAS 5. Wing Flaps -- 10 degrees (until obstacles are cleared). RETRACT (after reaching a safe altitude and 60 KIAS)." The student pilot reported a total flight experience of approximately 161 hours; of which, all were in the same make and model as the accident airplane, and about 42 hours were as solo flight. The reported wind at an airport about 14 miles west of the accident site, at 1320, was from 260 degrees at 5 knots. The student pilot thought he was practicing approaches and go-arounds to runway 25, a 3,058-foot-long, 120-foot-wide, turf runway. However, he was actually making approaches to runway 7; opposite the flow of traffic. During the third approach, while the airplane was on short final for runway 7, the student pilot observed another airplane final approach for runway 25. Fearing a collision, the student pilot banked the airplane left and initiated a climb. During the maneuver, he forgot to increase throttle and partially retract the flaps. The airplane subsequently stalled, descended straight down, and impacted a grass area to the left of the runway. Review of the airplane information manual revealed that a go-around required full engine power and a flap setting of 20 degrees. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12