# NTSB BFO89FA048: Cessna 172P, N53667, Caesars Head, SC, June 25, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 25, 1989, 09:37 local (13:37 UTC)
- Place: Caesars Head, SC
- Coordinates: 35.08073, -82.630783 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0807&lon=-82.6308&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 10, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11461
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO89FA048
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11461/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO89FA048

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED WHILE FLYING OVER RISING TERRAIN, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AND COLLISION WITH WOODED TERRAIN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  THE TERRAIN CONDITIONS AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE CFI PLT RPRTD HE WOULD BE DEPG ON A SIGHTSEEING FLT. ON THE NEXT DAY, THE ACFT WAS RPRTD AS MISSING & A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. IT WAS LOCATED ON 6/29/89, WHERE IT HAD CRASHED ON MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. RADAR DATA INDCD THE ACFT WAS TRAVELING DOWN A VALLEY & HAD TURNED TOWARD RISING TERRAIN. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT CRASHED ON WOODED, MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 2000 FT & BURNED. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE FAILED TO REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION THAT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACDNT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N53667](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N53667-1990-07-16), registration cancelled 1990-07-16, S/N 17274798 (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: 17274798
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Cornerstone Aviation
- Registered owner: Bob Jone University
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 21, 1989
- Departed: GMU, GREENVILLE, SC
- Airport: GMU

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 871 total, 370 in this make and model, 757 as pilot in command, 169 in the last 90 days, 72 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: AVL, 25 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 19890625018659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890625018659A), Jun 25, 1989: Cessna 172P, Greenville, SC, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Flew into trees on rising terrain during sightseeing flight. Aircraft totally destroyed by impact and fire.

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.