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20040314005469A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Cessna 172C · Thermal, CA · March 14, 2004

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
March 14, 2004 · 18:00 local
Place
Thermal, CA
Airport
Private
Phase of flight
Go Round (Aborted VFR)
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N8287X
NTSB investigation
NTSBLAX04CA157
Reported as
Cessna 172C
Reported engine
Continental O300D
Fatal injuries
0
Pilot’s flight hours
645 total605 in this make and model16 in the last 90 days
N8287XRegistered now · Cessna 172CS/N 17248787 · Built 1961Airframe modelCessna 172CEngine modelContinental 0-300 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) On March 14, 2004 the pilot in command of N8287X commenced a flight from desert center airport, desert center, CA (L64) to his privately owned landing strip at privacy data omitted the flight was terminated with loss of control during the landing phase at approximately 14:30 PST. The pilot stated that the aircraft had no mechanical problems at the time of the accident. During the approach the pilot stated he was high and fast, but continued his approach anyway. The pilot stated he reiterated these facts to his passenger and felt uncomfortable about his altitude and speed. The pilot touched down and did not have enough usable runway to stop the aircraft. The pilot stated he elected to initiate a go around after his lengthy landing. During the go around the pilot turned the aircraft to the left and tried to keep the aircraft in the air. The aircraft struck a mesquite tree and impacted the ground. The pilot said at the time of the accident the temperature was ninety degrees fahrenheit and runway length was approximately 1,750 feet.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON MARCH 14, 2004 THE PILOT IN COMMAND OF N8287X COMMENCED A FLIGHT FROM DESERT CENTER AIRPORT, DESERT CENTER, CA (L64) TO HIS PRIVATELY OWNED LANDING STRIP AT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ THE FLIGHT WAS TERMINATED WITH LOSS OF CONTROL DURING THE LANDING PHASE AT APPROXIMATELY 14:30 PST. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. DURING THE APPROACH THE PILOT STATED HE WAS HIGH AND FAST, BUT CONTINUED HIS APPROACH ANYWAY. THE PILOT STATED HE REITERATED THESE FACTS TO HIS PASSENGER AND FELT UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT HIS ALTITUDE AND SPEED. THE PILOT TOUCHED DOWN AND DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH USABLE RUNWAY TO STOP THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT STATED HE ELECTED TO INITIATE A GO AROUND AFTER HIS LENGTHY LANDING. DURING THE GO AROUND THE PILOT TURNED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE LEFT AND TRIED TO KEEP THE AIRCRAFT IN THE AIR. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A MESQUITE TREE AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE PILOT SAID AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE TEMPERATURE WAS NINETY DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND RUNWAY LENGTH WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,750 FEET.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX04CA157Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportThermal, CAthe pilot's failure to retract the flaps during the go-around and his failure to obtain and maintain sufficient airspeed, which led to a stall mush condition. High density altitude was a contributing factor.Mar 14, 2004 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N8287X · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 20110507030409ALanding: TouchdownFirewall damage found during annual inspection. Aircraft owner thinks it may have been caused by a hard landing.May 7, 2011 · Substantial damage