# Accident 20040917024349A: Cessna 172L, Kill Devil Hill, NC, September 17, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 17, 2004, 10:25 local time
- Place: Kill Devil Hill, NC
- Airport: First Flight Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.0181° N, 75.6711° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0181&lon=-75.6711&mi=10
- Aircraft: N986AC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N986AC-2007-02-07) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172L (registry code 2072432, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172l) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172L
- Reported engine: LYC O320*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 735 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL04CA188](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04CA188) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040917024349A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2004, N986AC WAS DOING TOUCH AND GO PATTERNS AT KILL DEVIL HILLS, NC (FFA). ON THE 9TH APPROACH TO RUNWAY 20, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A "A SINKING FEELING." AUTOMATED WEATHER AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT REPORTED WINDS OF 150 AT 9 GUSTING TO 15 KNOTS WITH WIND DIRECTION VARYING FROM 131 TO 201. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY 200 YARDS SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE NOSE GEAR IMMEDIATELY SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND THE AIRCRAFT SLID APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET INTO A DITCH AND CAME TO REST IN AN INVERTED ALTITUDE ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE DITCH. THE PILOT SUFFERED A BROKEN HIP AS WELL AS NUMEROUS LACERATIONS TO THE EXTREMITIES AND HEAD. THE PILOT WAS AIRLIFTED TO NORFOLK AND IS EXPECTED TO MAKE A FULL RECOVERY. NO MECHANICAL IRREGULARITIES OR DEFECTS WERE FOUND AND THE PILOT REPORTED NO MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

## 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 ATL04CA188](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04CA188), Sep 17, 2004: Cessna 172L (N986AC), Kill Devil Hlls, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: An in-flight encounter with a downdraft on final approach, which resulted in a loss of control of the airplane and subsequent collision with the ground.

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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