# NTSB BFO92LA074: Cessna 172N, N739GM, St Francis, ME, May 22, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 22, 1992, 17:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place: St Francis, ME
- Location: 47.1711° N, 68.8898° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Saint Francis, ME, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.1711&lon=-68.8898&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 8, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11797
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO92LA074
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11797/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO92LA074

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL.  THE WIND CONDITION WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - low pass - initiated, pilot in command
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS MAKING A LOW PASS OVER A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP AT ABOUT 100 TO 200 FT AGL, WHEN THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A WINDSHEAR.  AT THAT TIME, HE WAS USING FULL FLAPS AND AN AIRSPEED OF ABOUT 55 TO 60 KNOTS.  ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE AIRPLANE NOSED DOWN AND STRUCK THE GROUND, DESPITE HIS EFFORTS TO REGAIN CONTROL.  AFTER IMPACT, THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST AFTER MOVING ONLY ABOUT 5 FT.  THE PILOT REPORTED THE WINDS WERE AT 22 GUSTING TO 30 KTS, AND THAT THERE WAS MODERATE TURBULENCE.  NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WAS REPORTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N739GM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N739GM-1993-06-16), registration cancelled 1993-06-16, S/N 17270532 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17270532
- Airframe hours: 6122
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Mark T. Hafford
- Registered owner: Mark T. And Shirley A. Hafford
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 18, 1992, 15 hours before
- Departed: CAR, CARIBOU, ME
- Destination: FVE, FRENCHVILLE, ME
- Airport: Kelco Tree Farm

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 221 total, 154 in this make and model, 178 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 22 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 95 °F

## 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 19920522016289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920522016289A), May 22, 1992: Cessna 172N, St Francis, ME, Substantial damage. Leveled off at 30 feet AGL to look at runway. Dropped nose first to impact. Blamed windshear.

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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