NTSB Factual Report

"THIS CASE WAS MODIFIED JULY 15, 2008."

On April 18, 2008, at 1520 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N162HD, experienced a nose gear strut collapse when the airplane overran runway 27 (2,203 feet by 50 feet, dry asphalt) while landing at the Kelley's Island Municipal Airport (89D), Kelley's Island, Ohio. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane received minor damage. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated from the Griffing-Sandusky Airport (SKY), Sandusky, Ohio, at 1900.

The pilot reported the Automated Weather Observing System at Keller Airport (PCW), Port Clinton, Ohio, 10 miles southwest of 89D, reported the winds as being from 210 degrees at 7 knots, and that runway 27 was being used at both SKY and PCW. He reported he flew over 89D and checked the windsock, which indicated winds from 200 degrees at about 7 knots. He entered the traffic pattern for runway 27, but was too high and fast on final approach so he performed a go-around. He again entered the traffic pattern for runway 27 using a lower altitude and a slower airspeed. He stated he used full flaps and touched down approximately 500 feet down the runway at 60 to 65 knots. He stated the airplane was in full contact with the runway when he applied the brakes and the airplane began to skid. He stated he released the brakes and reapplied them, but the airplane continued to skid. The pilot reported the airplane slowed slightly, but it continued off the end of the runway into the grass. The nose gear contacted the edge of a roadway and the nose gear strut collapsed vertically damaging the firewall reinforcement panel.

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol Sergeant who responded to the accident, the first visible skid marks on the runway were approximately 656 from the departure end of the runway. He reported the skid marks were approximately 30 feet in length. The marks then stopped for about 30 feet prior to additional intermittent marks being visible. The airplane came to rest 284 feet from the departure end of the runway.

The winds reported at the Toledo Metcalf Airport, 35 miles west of 89D, at 1453, were 160 degrees 13 knots gusting to 16 knots. Winds reported at the Toledo Express Airport, 50 miles west of 89D, at 1452, were from 210 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The Ohio State Highway Patrol Sergeant who responded to the accident reported the winds were out of the southeast at 10 knots. Photos taken by the Sergeant show the windsock indicating a wind out of the east.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during landing. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's selection of the wrong runway and a tailwind.