# NTSB ATL89LA183: Cessna 172P, N52896, Cincinnati, OH, July 22, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 22, 1989, 17:50 local (21:50 UTC)
- Place: Cincinnati, OH
- Coordinates: 39.239692, -84.349273 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2397&lon=-84.3493&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8048
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89LA183
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8048/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89LA183

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER GO-AROUND PROCEDURE OF FULLY RETRACTING THE FLAPS WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE MUSHING INTO TREES. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: A MISJUDGEMENT OF FLARE HEIGHT ABOVE THE RUNWAY AND FAILURE TO REMOVE THE CARBURETOR HEAT WHICH MAY HAVE PREVENTED THE AVAILABILITY OF FULL POWER.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr)
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - go-around - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - carburetor heat - improper use of, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - raising of flaps - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD PRACTICED TOUCH & GO LANDINGS FOR ABOUT 50 MINUTES. HIS FINAL APPROACH WAS FOR A PRACTICE SOFT FIELD LANDING, WITH FULL FLAPS EXTENDED, TO RUNWAY 24. WHEN HE FLARED TO LAND THE AIRPLANE BALLOONED, AND HE INITIATED A GO-AROUND AND RETRACTED THE FLAPS TO 10 DEGREES. THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT CLIMB AND DRIFTED TO THE LEFT INTO TREES. THE FLAP SELECTOR WAS FOUND IN THE RETRACTED POSITION, AND THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL WAS IN THE 'ON' POSITION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N52896](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N52896-1989-11-14), registration cancelled 1989-11-14, S/N 17274631 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17274631
- Airframe hours: 2530
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Schmidt Aviation
- Registered owner: Mirko M. Nussbaum
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 15, 1989, 15 hours before
- Airport: I77, Blue Ash, runway 24, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 82 total, 62 in this make and model, 34 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LUK, 10 nm away

## 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 19890722024639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890722024639A), Jul 22, 1989: Cessna 172P, Cincinnati, OH, Substantial damage. Ballooned on landing, tried to go around. Drifted left of runway and crashed into trees.

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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