# NTSB CEN10LA381: Cessna 172, N919YA, Goddard, KS, July 9, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 9, 2010, 09:20 local (14:20 UTC) - Place: Goddard, KS - Coordinates: 37.587501, -97.602218 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5875&lon=-97.6022&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Cessna Aircraft Company, Lycoming Engines, FAA Wichita FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76571 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA381 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76571/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76571 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA381 ## Probable cause The pilot did not maintain airspeed during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s poor preflight planning. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: performance calculations](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 118 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot departed from a 2,200-foot grass strip with an 8-knot tailwind. There were 35-foot high power lines at the departure end of the airstrip, the grass was wet, and the first third of the runway sloped uphill. The pilot stated that the airplane became airborne further down the runway than he originally expected. He was concerned that he would not clear the power lines and initially attempted to fly under them; however, when the pilot saw a road grader driving across his flight path, he pitched up, added an additional 10 degrees of flaps, and attempted to fly over the power lines. After clearing the power lines, the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall, descended, and collided with the ground in a nose-low attitude. No preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures were found that would have precluded normal operation. Performance calculations showed the airplane would have required 2,181 feet of runway to clear a 50 foot obstacle for an 8 knot downwind takeoff on a dry grass runway. Because the runway was wet and the first third was uphill, the required distance would have been longer. ## Factual narrative On July 9, 2010, about 0920 central daylight time, a Cessna 172S, single-engine land airplane, N919YA, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during takeoff from a private rural airport near Goddard, Kansas. The pilot, who was the only occupant, sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and a flight plan had not been filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. At the time of the accident the airplane was departing for a flight to Colonel James Jabara Airport (AAO), Wichita, Kansas. The pilot reported that the 2,200 foot long grass strip had 35-foot power lines at the departure end of the runway, the grass was wet, and the first third of the runway sloped uphill. The pilot stated that the airplane became airborne further down the runway than he originally expected. He was concerned that he would not be able to clear the power lines and initially attempted to fly under them; however, when the pilot saw a road grader driving across his flight path, he pitched up, added an additional 10 degrees of flaps, and attempted to fly over the power lines. After clearing the power lines, the pilot felt the airplane vibrating and then noticed that his airspeed indication was zero. The airplane entered an aerodynamic stall, descended, and collided with the ground in a nose low attitude. The airplane came to rest inverted. The pilot reported that this accident could have been prevented had he considered the negative performance effects of the tailwind, the dew on the grass, and the slight uphill slope of the runway. In addition, the pilot reported that his pitch attitude was too high and that he may have forgotten to reset the engine mixture control to full rich. The pilot also reported that he thought the wind was calm. The 0853 surface weather observation at Wichita Mid-Continent Airport (ICT), Wichita, Kansas, located 8 miles northeast of the accident site, showed the wind was 010 degrees at 8 knots, visibility 10 miles, few clouds at 15,000 feet, temperature 23 degrees Celsius, dew point temperature 18 degrees Celsius, and altimeter 30.17 inches Hg. According to the performance section of the Cessna Information Manual, a short field takeoff would have required about 2,181 feet of runway to clear a 50 foot obstacle for an 8 knot downwind takeoff on a dry grass runway. An examination of the airplane showed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N919YA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N919YA-2013-06-06), registration cancelled 2013-06-06, S/N 172S8670, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (S) - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8670 - Airframe hours: 1148 - Engines: LYCOMING IO360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, December 18, 2009, 27 hours before - Departed: NONE, Goddard, KS - Destination: AAO, Wichita, KS - Airport: NONE, Dunn Airstrip - Goddard KS, runway 19, 2,200 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: serious; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 3, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 8,165 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 8,021 as pilot in command, 181 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: KICT, 8 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 20100709050579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100709050579A), Jul 9, 2010: Cessna 172S, Goddard, KS, Substantial damage. On July 9, 2010, the airman departed a north/south oriented private airfield located five (5) nautical miles southwest of Goddard, Kansas. The runway is… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 27, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76571. 9.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 609 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366035&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Short Field Takeoff Performance and Weight & Balance (item 2, .PDF, 430 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366932&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Short%20Field%20Takeoff%20Performance%20and%20Weight%20%26%20Balance-Master.PDF - Maps (item 3, .PDF, 215 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366036&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maps-Master.PDF - Photo 1 (item 4, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366228&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201-Master.PDF - Photo 2 (item 5, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366229&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202-Master.PDF - Photo 3 (item 6, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366230&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203-Master.PDF - Photo 4 (item 7, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366231&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 8, .PDF, 334 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366226&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF 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.