Final Approach

February 22, 1998
York, PA
Cessna 172P
1 FATAL

The airplane was on final approach to a runway with a displaced threshold. A passenger in a landing helicopter who observed the Cessna during its final approach stated: ?The wings began to seesaw left and right, back and forth and then the airplane dropped sharply and I observed debris fly up from below the drop off at the end of the runway.” Another witnesses observed the airplane pitched down more than 60 degrees and in a turn. The airplane impacted a grass knoll about 300 feet from the displaced threshold of the runway, and came to rest inverted. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any pre-impact malfunctions of the airframe or engine. (NYC98FA066)