# NTSB ATL94LA125: Cessna 172, N54920, Kitty Hawk, NC, June 25, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 25, 1994, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Kitty Hawk, NC - Coordinates: 36.070449, -75.70948 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0704&lon=-75.7095&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report February 14, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3405 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL94LA125 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3405/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA125 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS, HIS IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, AND THE INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS WERE THE WIND CONDITIONS AND THE TREES THAT BOUNDED THE RUNWAY. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr) - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - improper, pilot in command (cause) - throttle/power control - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS LANDING AT A COASTAL AIRPORT WITH STRONG WINDS AND WIND GUSTS. HE COMMENTED THAT HE TRAINED AT A COASTAL AIRPORT WITH PERSISTENT CROSSWINDS, BUT DID NOT ACCOUNT FOR THE TREES THAT BOUNDED THIS RUNWAY. AS THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED BELOW THE TOPS OF THE TREES, AND THE PILOT RECOGNIZED THAT THE RUNWAY WAS MADE, HE REDUCED THE POWER TO IDLE. THE AIRPLANE DEVELOPED A RAPID SINK RATE, LANDED AND BOUNCED. A GO-AROUND WAS INITIATED FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND SUBSEQUENT STALL. THE AIRPLANE THEN COLLIDED WITH THE TREES. ## Factual narrative On June 25, 1994, about 1430 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N54920, was substantially damaged following a collision with terrain during a go-around attempt at the First Flight Airport in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The private pilot and his passenger both received serious injuries in the accident. The aircraft was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions existed, and a visual flight rules flight plan was in effect at the time of the accident. The flight departed North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina about 1230. According to witnesses, the aircraft landed on runway 20. The aircraft veered sharply to the left and then to the right. The aircraft attempted a go-around, stalled, and impacted the terrain on the right side of the runway. The pilot and his wife, also a private pilot, stated that as the airplane descended below the tops of the trees that bound the runway edge, the airplane developed a rapid sink rate. Winds were from 220 degrees at 20 knots with gusts to 25 and 35 knots. The airplane bounced, and a go-around was initiated. Subsequently, the pilot lost control of the airplane and it mushed into the trees in a left wing low attitude. The pilot commented that both he and his wife learned to fly at a coastal airport with persistent crosswinds. However, he said, he failed to account for the trees bounding the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N54920](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54920-2013-08-15), registration cancelled 2013-08-15, S/N 17275078, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17275078 - Airframe hours: 6832 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Lasher, Richard W. - Registered owner: Dale Krebsbach - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 1994 - Departed: CRE, N. MYRTLE BEACH, SC - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: FFA, First Flight, runway 20, 3,000 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 278 total, 110 in this make and model, 140 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 20 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MQI, 6 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 19940625016819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940625016819A), Jun 25, 1994: Cessna 172P, Kill Devil Hill, NC, Substantial damage. Encountered severe turbulence landing. Bounced zig zagged. Began go around. Stall mushed 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. --- 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.