Accident Cessna 172RG N6207R, Tuesday 31 May 1983

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Date:	Tuesday 31 May 1983
Time:	00:40 LT
Type:	Cessna 172RG
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	N6207R
MSN:	172RG0115
Year of manufacture:	1980
Total airframe hrs:	1510 hours
Engine model:	Lycoming O-360-F1A6
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Plattsburgh, NY - United States of America
Phase:	Approach
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Pittsfield, MA (KPSF)
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
DURING AN IFR ARRIVAL, APRX 1 MI FROM THE OUTER MARKER (OM), THE PLT ASKED FOR A DESCENT FROM 3300 FT MSL & WAS CLEARED FOR THE LOCALIZER, RWY 1 APCH. THE PUBLISHED MIN ALT AT THE OM WAS 2100 FT. THE PLT REPORTED AT THE OM, AND 11 SECONDS LATER, THE CONTROLLER ASKED IF HE WANTED TO MAKE A 360 DEG TURN TO LOSE ALT. THE PLT DECLINED, BUT HE MADE 2 S-TURNS WHILE DESCENDING ON THE APCH. HE STATED THAT AT 800 FT MSL, HE APPLIED CRUISE POWER, CHECKED HIS TIME & NOTED HE HAD 30 SECONDS REMAINING TO GET TO THE MISSED APCH POINT. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, HE HEARD A 'LOUD BANG.' HE THEN MADE A MISSED APCH, DIVERTED TO BURLINGTON, VT & LANDED FROM AN ILS APCH. AFTER LANDING FOREIGN OBJECT DAMAGE WAS FOUND ON THE LEADINGEDGES OF THE WINGS, PROP SPINNER & LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. TREE FOLIAGE WAS ALSO FOUND ON THE ACFT. THE CONTROLLER STATED THE ARTS TARGET WENT TO A NON-BEACON STATUS AT THE APCH END OF THE RWY (AT 500 FT MSL). THE MDA WAS 720 FT MSL & THE MIN CEILING & VISIBILITY WERE 400 FT & 1 MI. APRX 4 MI SOUTHEAST, THE 0034 WX WAS 400 FT OBSCD, 7/8 MI VIS, FOG.

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation: