Cessna 172
Ocean City, MD — March 12, 2020
Event Information
| Date | March 12, 2020 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | ERA20CA141 |
| Event ID | 20200312X31340 |
| Location | Ocean City, MD |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 38.31055, -75.12389 |
| Airport | Ocean City Muni |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | Cessna |
| Model | 172 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Probable Cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during an attempted go-around to avoid birds, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent nose-over.
Full Narrative
The pilot reported that some birds moved over the runway when he was about to land the airplane. He applied full power and retracted the flaps to initiate a go-around procedure; however, the airplane touched down and departed the left side of the runway. The nose and both wings impacted the grass before the airplane came to rest upright.The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings.
The student pilot, who also held a commercial pilot certificate in rotorcraft, reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.