NTSB Factual Report

On July 8, 2002, at 1202 central daylight time, a Cessna 172B single-engine airplane, N7550X, sustained substantial damage when it collided with the localizer antenna after overrunning the runway at the Denton Municipal Airport, Denton, Texas. The private pilot received minor injuries, and the sole passenger received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditionals prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 local personal flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Denton Municipal at 1100.

During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that after completing the local flight, he returned to the airport. Two low passes were made over runway 17, but no landings were made because an aircraft was on the runway. The pilot reported that he was making radio transmissions over the local frequency while in the pattern. While setting up for the third approach, another aircraft advised the pilot that his transmissions were garbled and hard to understand. The pilot continued the approach to runway 17 as the aircraft on the runway began its takeoff roll. The pilot stated that he knew that he was high and fast, and with the flaps extended, the aircraft was floating down the runway. The pilot reported that he was distracted by the other aircraft taking off and thought that he touched down with about 1,500 feet of remaining runway. After touch down, the pilot stated that he was going too fast and ran off the end of runway 17.

The aircraft subsequently collided with the localizer antenna located approximately 300 feet off the end of runway 17. The aircraft continued approximately 108 feet beyond the antenna before coming to rest.

Law enforcement personnel reported that three sets of tire marks were located on the runway beginning at approximately 271 feet from the end of the runway pavement, indicating the aircraft had initially touched down and bounced twice. Tire tracks through the grass indicated a slight left turn just prior to the aircraft colliding nearly centered through the localizer antenna length.

A witness located in a business hangar located between taxiways A5 and A6, stated that he observed the aircraft centered over runway 17 at about 100 feet above ground level. The witness stated that "the aircraft was in a fairly steep angle of descent and appeared to have a fairly high airspeed." The aircraft touched down in a level attitude near the end of the runway and traveled off the end and through the localizer antenna.

Post accident documentation of the aircraft noted that both propeller blades were bent, and the nose gear was separated. The left wing lift strut was observed bent at approximately a 45 degree angle, the left and right wing leading edges were damaged, and the entire windscreen was broken. Pieces of the antenna penetrated the cabin.

The left and right main landing gear remained attached to the fuselage. The nose gear steering tube assemblies remained attached to the rudder pedal and brake assembly. Continuity was established between the steering rods and the rudder pedals. Both the right and left side tires rotated freely. Flat spots were noted on both tires. The flat spot on the left tire was more pronounced than on the right. Both brake discs were inspected prior to a functional test. The brakes were applied in the cockpit and the left and right wheels would not turn.

Runway 17/35 is a 5,999 foot long and 150 foot wide asphalt surface. The runway elevation is 642 feet. The localizer antenna is located at the approach end of runway 35 in the critical area.

At the time of the accident the weather conditions reported at the airport were a clear sky with visibility at nine statute miles. The temperature was 33 degrees Celsius and the winds were variable at four knots.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's misjudgment of distance and altitude. Contributing factors were the pilot's diverted attention and the runway localizer antenna.