# Accident 20040801023499A: Cessna 172S, Waterloo, AL, August 1, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 1, 2004, 16:05 local time
- Place: Waterloo, AL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Unauth Low Level Opns
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.9106° N, 88.0606° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9106&lon=-88.0606&mi=10
- Aircraft: N970SP, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N970SP-2005-04-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172S (registry code 2072439, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 683 total, 279 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL04LA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA164) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040801023499A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT WAS FLYING NEAR WATERLOO, ALABAMA JUST ABOVE THE TENNESSEE RIVER AT APPROXIMATELY 1600 HOURS ON AUGUST 01, 2004. SEVERAL WITNESSES STATED THEY OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT FLYING PARALLEL TO THE SHORE LINE AS IF IT WERE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED PERFORMING A SLOW DESCENT TO APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET ABOVE THE WATER WHEN IT LEVELED OFF AND FLEW FOR APPROXIMATELY A MILE. AS IT NEARED THE WATERLOO AREA BRIDGE THE AIRCRAFT MADE A LEVEL LEFT TURN (APPROXIMATELY 20 DEGREES) AND STARTED A STEEP CLIMB. AT APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A STALL CONDITION, MADE A HALF TURN TO THE RIGHT AND NOSED STRAIGHT INTO THE WATER. THE AIRCRAFT SANK TO THE RIVER BOTTOM IN APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET OF WATER WITH ONE PERSON ABOARD.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ATL04LA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA164), Aug 1, 2004: Cessna 172S (N970SP), Waterloo, AL, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in a stall and subsequent uncontrolled descent and collision into water.

## Other reports on N970SP (1)

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

- [Accident 20030725016389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030725016389A), Jul 25, 2003: Cessna 172S (N970SP), Olive Branch, MS, Substantial damage. (-23) [privacy data omitted]

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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