20110103000319A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Cessna 172H · Walnut Grove, MO · January 3, 2011

Date: January 3, 2011 · 18:52 local
Place: Walnut Grove, MO
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N1416F
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN11LA138
Reported as: Cessna 172H
Reported engine: Continental 0-300 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 405 total340 in this make and model11 in the last 90 days

N1416FRegistration cancelled Aug 6, 2013 · Cessna 172HS/N 17254911 · Built 1966 Airframe modelCessna 172H Engine 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.

ATC radar data showed that the aircraft was in straight and level flight at 3,400' MSL, heading 254 degrees, for an extended time. Then, very suddenly, the aircraft began a left turn and a rapid descent, and within 10 seconds, the aircraft disappeared from radar. The aircraft impacted the ground at a high rate of speed, striking the left wing first at an impact angle of approximately 55 degrees.

As the FAA filed it

ATC RADAR DATA SHOWED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN STRAIGHT AND LEVEL FLIGHT AT 3,400' MSL, HEADING 254 DEGREES, FOR AN EXTENDED TIME. THEN, VERY SUDDENLY, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN A LEFT TURN AND A RAPID DESCENT, AND WITHIN 10 SECONDS, THE AIRCRAFT DISAPPEARED FROM RADAR. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, STRIKING THE LEFT WING FIRST AT AN IMPACT ANGLE OF APPROXIMATELY 55 DEGREES.

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 CEN11LA138Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportWalnut Grove, MOThe pilot's loss of control for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's fatigue.Jan 4, 2011 · Substantial damage