# NTSB ATL05CA088: Cessna 172, N496AC, Raleigh, NC, May 27, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 26, 2005, 22:05 local (May 27, 2005, 02:05 UTC) - Place: Raleigh, NC - Coordinates: 35.873054, -78.785552 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8731&lon=-78.7856&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Greensboro FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61581 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL05CA088 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61581/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05CA088 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate obstacle clearance during initial climb, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, climb - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) ## Analysis According to the pilot, after returning from a cross-country flight they were conducting a night landing on runway 32. After landing on the runway, the airplane bounced and the pilot added full power, and started a right climbing turn. After seeing another airplane on short final approach to runway 23L, the pilot elected to continue the right climbing turn. At this point the pilot noticed that the airspeed had dropped to 40 knots. The airplane collided with trees.. The post-accident examination of the airplane revealed the nose of the airplane was crushed and displaced aft towards the firewall. The right wing assembly displayed leading edge crush damage, and separated at the wing root. The left wing assembly was buckled and displaced aft. The vertical and horizontal stabilizers were buckled and twisted. The empennage was buckled, and no flight control anomalies with the airplane were reported by the pilot prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On May 26, 2005, at 2205 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N496AC, registered to and operator by Flightgest Incorporated, collided with trees during climb out at Raleigh Durham International Airport, Raleigh, North Carolina. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The private pilot and passenger were uninjured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight fight departed Raleigh Durham International Airport, Raleigh, North Carolina on May 26, 2005 at 1900. According to the pilot, after returning from a cross-country flight they were conducting a night landing on runway 32. After landing on the runway the airplane bounced continuously down the runway. The pilot added full power, climbed out and made a 90-degree climbing right turn to avoid runway 23L. Another 90-degree right turn was initiated when the pilot observed an airplane on short final for runway 23L. As the airplane climbed out the airspeed dropped to 40 Knots. The pilot lowered the nose in an attempt to regain airspeed. After lowering the nose the pilot observed trees ahead of the airplane and attempted to climb above the trees but was unable to do so. The pilot stated "the airplane collided with trees." Post accident examination of the airplane revealed the nose of the airplane was crushed and displaced aft towards the firewall. The right wing assembly displayed leading edge crush damage, and separated at the wing root. The left wing assembly was buckled and displaced aft. The vertical and horizontal stabilizers were buckled and twisted. The empennage was buckled. No flight control anomalies were reported by the pilot prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N496AC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N496AC-2010-06-22), registration cancelled 2010-06-22, S/N 17281006, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17281006 - Airframe hours: 2272.8 - Engines: Lycoming I0-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Flightgest Incorporated - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2005, 40 hours before - Departed: RDU, Raleigh, NC - Destination: RDU, RALEIGH/DURHAM, NC - Airport: RDU, Raleigh-Durham International, runway 32, 3,570 × 100 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 147 total, 147 in this make and model, 59 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 320° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: RDU ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20050526010429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050526010429A), May 26, 2005: Cessna 172R, Raleigh-Durham, NC, Destroyed. (-23) The pilot was cleared to land on runway 31 at rdu airport. It was dark (approximately 2200 local). The pilot landed hard and porpoised the aircraft. The… ## Other investigations on N496AC (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 ATL04LA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA031), Oct 30, 2003: Cessna 172R (N496AC), New Bern, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's improper landing flare resulting in a hard landing. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.