No Fatalities When Student Pilot Reported Airspeed Indicator Problem, Overshot Runway On Landing

The student pilot flying a Cessna 172 did the right thing when he requested a return to Santa Monica airport after reporting an airspeed indicator malfunction, but was unable to execute a successful go-around when he ran out of runway after flying a traffic pattern that was too tight. Fortunately, no one was fatally injured in the accident, but the accident broke the pilot's leg, and two people painting a house sustained minor injuries when the plane went down.

NTSB Identification: WPR11FA415
 14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, August 29, 2011 in Santa Monica, CA
Aircraft: CESSNA 172M, registration: N5155Q
Injuries: 1 Serious,2 Minor.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On August 29, 2011, about 1427 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N5155Q, was substantially damaged when it impacted a tree and collided into a wall and the side of a private residence after a go-around from the Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO), Santa Monica, California. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was seriously injured, and two of the three painters who were working outside the home sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to Planeminder LLC and operated by Justice Aviation under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a planned solo flight to Santa Barbara, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane departed SMO about 1423.

According to the student pilot, following completion of the pretakeoff checks, the flight was cleared for takeoff. A few seconds after liftoff the student observed that the airspeed indicator was malfunctioning. The indicator's needle suddenly increased and then decreased until reaching zero miles per hour (mph). The student pilot informed the SMO air traffic controller that he had experienced an airspeed indicator failure and wanted to return for landing. About 1 minute later the controller cleared the pilot to land on runway 21, from which he had just departed.
 
 

File Photo

The student pilot proceeded to climb the airplane into the traffic pattern and kept the airplane closer to the runway, which resulted in it being higher than normal on short final approach and crossing over the landing threshold. As the airplane approached the last 1/4 of the runway, it was about 30 to 40 feet above the runway's surface when the pilot was directed to go around by the SMO controller.
 
The student pilot reported that he acknowledged the air traffic instruction, raised the wing flaps, and pushed the engine's throttle full forward. Thereafter, the student pilot observed power lines in front of the airplane, and he maneuvered right and left to avoid them.

The airplane initially collided with a tree located about 900 feet west of the departure end of runway 21. The distance between the impacted tree top and the main wreckage, located partially on top of a block wall, is about 85 feet. The engine and instrument panel were displaced in upward and aft directions.

The airplane has been recovered from the accident site and retained for further examination of the airframe structure and engine.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov