# NTSB ATL92FA053: Cessna 172P, N65988, N Topsail Beach, NC, March 2, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 2, 1992, 11:20 local (16:20 UTC)
- Place: N Topsail Beach, NC
- Coordinates: 34.489677, -77.550514 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4897&lon=-77.5505&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 24, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8499
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL92FA053
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8499/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92FA053

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO OBTAIN AND/OR MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING TAKEOFF, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AND COLLISION WITH THE GROUND. FACTORS WERE: THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO FOLLOW PROCEDURES/DIRECTIVES, HIS OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT WITH EXCESSIVE GROSS WEIGHT, AND HIS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE AS A PILOT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE NEWLY CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT WAS TAKING 3 FRIENDS  ON A LOCAL PLEASURE FLIGHT.  A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE  AIRPLANE DRIFTED SOON AFTER TAKEOFF, NARROWLY CLEARED A FUEL TANK AND TRAILER, AND ROLLED OFF TO THE LEFT.  HE STATED  THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING NORMALLY UNTIL GROUND IMPACT. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND IN A NEARLY VERTICAL, NOSE DOWN  ATTITUDE, WITH THE FLAPS UP.  THE 90-HOUR PILOT HAD LOGGED ONLY 5 HOURS IN THE C172.  POST ACCIDENT WEIGHT AND BALANCE  CALCULATIONS ESTIMATED THE TAKEOFF GROSS WEIGHT TO BE ABOUT 2474 POUNDS, THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE TAKEOFF WEIGHT FOR THIS  AIRPLANE WAS 2400.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N65988](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N65988-1992-08-21), registration cancelled 1992-08-21, S/N 17275939 (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: 17275939
- Airframe hours: 3733
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: I.S.O. Aero Services, Inc.
- Registered owner: I.S.O. Aero Services, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 19, 1991, 80 hours before
- Airport: 54T, Topsail Island, runway 24, 2,600 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 19; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 90 total, 5 in this make and model, 53 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: OAJ, 22 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 19920302004829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920302004829A), Mar 2, 1992: Cessna 172P, North Topsail B, NC, Substantial damage, 2 fatal. Over gross weight. Drifted off runway alignment on takeoff. Nose high climb barely cleared obstacles. Stalled.

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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