Cessna 172F N5382R accident near White Plains, New York

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain the proper glide path during the approach.

NTSB analysis

While on the instrument landing system (ILS) approach, the pilot of a Cessna 172F, acquired the runway visually. About 3 miles from the runway, he closed his flight plan and continued the visual descent to the runway. The pilot stated he could not see the four-light precision approach path indicator (PAPI) and he failed to monitor his descent path. The airplane descended below the glideslope, impacted the approach lights, and then the localizer antenna. The airplane then nosed over and came to rest inverted prior to the runway threshold. The pilot reported no mechanical difficulties with the airplane prior to the accident. During the impact, the airplane sustained damage to the fuselage, wings, and empennage.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for NYC08CA170 for the full record.