20170729010179A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Cessna 172N · Big Bear City, CA · July 29, 2017

Date: July 29, 2017 · 14:00 local
Place: Big Bear City, CA
Airport: Big Bear City
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N5381J
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR17FA171
Reported as: Cessna 172N
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-320 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 2
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 225 total13 in this make and model10 in the last 90 days

N5381JRegistration cancelled Sep 15, 2020 · Cessna 172NS/N 17273771 · Built 1980 Airframe modelCessna 172N Engine modelLycoming 0-320 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.

On July 29, 2017 about 1420 pacific daylight time, the aircraft departed from Big Bear City Airport (L35) heading to apple valley airport (avp). The flight was conducted under 14 CFR part 91. Visual meteorlogical conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. On takeoff the aircraft made a right crosswind turn and transitionted downwind. During this phase of flight the aircraft appears to have stalled causing it to crash 1/2 mile south of the airport. Both the pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries in the accident.

As the FAA filed it

ON JULY 29, 2017 ABOUT 1420 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED FROM BIG BEAR CITY AIRPORT (L35) HEADING TO APPLE VALLEY AIRPORT (AVP). THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. VISUAL METEORLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. ON TAKEOFF THE AIRCRAFT MADE A RIGHT CROSSWIND TURN AND TRANSITIONTED DOWNWIND. DURING THIS PHASE OF FLIGHT THE AIRCRAFT APPEARS TO HAVE STALLED CAUSING IT TO CRASH 1/2 MILE SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT. BOTH THE PILOT AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES IN THE ACCIDENT.

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 WPR17FA171Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBig Bear, CAThe pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during takeoff in high density altitude conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, loss of control, and subsequent impact with terrain.Jul 29, 2017 · Substantial damage