- Date
- April 6, 2024, 11:33 local (18:33 UTC)
- Place
- Huasna, CA
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N8907BCessna 172
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- FAA
- Case key
- 194055
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during a low altitude maneuver, resulting in a loss of control.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he was conducting a series of aerial drops for training. After the third pass, he was unable to attain a positive rate of climb. The airplane continued to descend, and the right main landing gear contacted the ground and separated. The airplane veered right and impacted a metal pipe corral fence resulting in substantial damage to the leftwing strut and firewall. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8907B
- Reported as
- Cessna 172
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 36707
- Built
- 1958
- Airframe hours
- 4,465
- Engine
- Continental O-300-A, 142 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Air drop · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Unknown
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 19, 2023 · 13.6 hours before
- Departed
- KSBP · San Luis Obispo, CA
- Destination
- Same as departure
- Airport
- None · Huasna Ranch, runway 34, 2,400 × 50 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment
- Stall warning system, ADS-B
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 72
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- BasicMed, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- November 9, 2023
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 725 total · 526 in this make and model · 632 as pilot in command
- Role
- Other flight crew
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Medical
- Unknown
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 4-point
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Icing
- Unknown
- Turbulence
- Unknown
- Observed at
- KSMX, 25 nm away
- METAR
- KSMX 061151Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 02/02 A3023 RMK AO2 SLP241
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 3, 2024, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.1 MB in all.