# NTSB ATL88LA116: Cessna 172F, N5244F, Myrtle Beach, SC, March 16, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 16, 1988, 14:56 local (19:56 UTC)
- Place: Myrtle Beach, SC
- Coordinates: 33.690643, -78.890609 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6906&lon=-78.8906&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 9, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7720
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88LA116
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7720/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88LA116

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO SINK RAPIDLY ABOUT 100 FT ABOVE THE RWY THRESHOLD. HE ADDED PWR AND INITIATED A FLARE. UPON TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE PITCHED DOWN AND ROLLED RT. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQEUNTLY SKIDDED OFF OF THE RT SIDE OF THE RWY AND NOSED OVER. THE TWR CHIEF CONTROLLER RPTD THAT WIND GUSTS OF 25 KTS AND HIGHER HAD BEEN OBSERVED AT THE ARPT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, AND THAT THE WIND DIRECTION HAD VARIED. HE NOTED THAT ARPT ATIS BROADCASTS HAD INCLUDED WIND GUST ADVISORIES FOR OVER 2 HRS PRECEDING THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5244F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5244F-1991-02-02), registration cancelled 1991-02-02, S/N 17253331 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172F
- Registry model: [Cessna 172F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (registry code 2072414) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1725331
- Airframe hours: 8231
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Myrtle Beach Afb Aero Club
- Registered owner: United States Air Force
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, December 2, 1987, 94 hours before
- Departed: FAYETTEVILLE, NC
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: MYR, Myrtle Beach Afb, runway 35, 9,502 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 119 total, 69 in this make and model, 68 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MYR

## 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 19880316048729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880316048729A), Mar 16, 1988: Cessna 172F, Myrtle Beach, SC, Substantial damage. Nosed over landing in strong gusty surface winds.

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.

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