- Date
- October 24, 1989, 01:00 local (05:00 UTC)
- Place
- Knightdale, NC
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N737QGCessna 172N
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report June 26, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19891024042119A
- Case key
- 8170
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 pilot's failure to maintain the proper glide path to the runway resulting in the airplane colliding with trees while making an approach to landing with no electrical power.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Flt experienced alternator failure. Plt elected to cont flt to destination. About 20 minutes from destination, flt lost all electrical power. While making night visual approach with passenger holding flashlight on instrument panel, plt allowed airplane to descend too low resulting in collision with tree tops. Plt then attempted go- around even though pilot rated passenger stated runway was made after collision. When acft would not climb during go-around, it collided with trees and came to rest. Alternator failure was result of brush slip ring being damaged at overhaul resulting in premature wearing of brushes. Alternator had 57 hours since overhaul.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N737QG
- Reported as
- Cessna 172N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17269587
- Airframe hours
- 2,875
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-H2AD, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Robert Scott Kellum
- Registered owner
- Topsail Air, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · September 14, 1989 · 38 hours before
- Departed
- MIV · Millville, NJ
- Airport
- W17 · Raleigh East, runway 1, 3,000 × 36 ft, asphalt
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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 30
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 311 total · 32 in this make and model · 256 as pilot in command · 6 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 110° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 46 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- RDU, 20 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.