# NTSB CEN12LA408: Cessna 172M, N73182, Griswold, IA, July 1, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 30, 2012, 20:30 local (Jul 1, 2012, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Griswold, IA - Coordinates: 41.333332, -95.083335 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3333&lon=-95.0833&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, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 26, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO, Cessna Aircraft Company - NTSB case key (mKey): 84144 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA408 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84144/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84144 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA408 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during an attempted go-around, resulting in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 123 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and passenger departed from a 2,500-foot-long private airstrip; they then made two passes over the airstrip before returning to land the airplane. The pilot reported that his vision was affected by the setting sun, crop shadows, and a barn during the landing and that he landed long and fast. As the end of the airstrip approached, the pilot applied power for a go-around, but, according to the pilot, the engine did not produce power; the airplane became airborne, and the pilot turned left, but the airplane could not hold altitude. The airplane impacted a field just south of the airstrip. A witness reported that the engine maintained power throughout the accident sequence; additional witnesses reported that the airplane lost airspeed and stalled while in a turn. Examination of the propeller blades revealed signatures consistent with engine power being produced at the time of impact; examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any preaccident malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The accident is consistent with inadequate airspeed followed by an aerodynamic stall. ## Factual narrative On June 30, 2012, about 2030 central daylight time, a Cessna 172 airplane, N73182, impacted a field shortly after departure from a private airfield near Griswold, Iowa. The private rated pilot and passenger received serious injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight. The pilot departed from a 2,500 foot airstrip, with several other airplanes to perform a water balloon drop. The airplane made two passes over the airstrip for the balloon drop before returning to land. The pilot reported that during the landing, the setting sun, shadows from the crops, and the barn affected his vision, and he landed long and fast. As the end of the airstrip approached, he applied power for a go-around. The pilot added that the engine did not produce power; the airplane went airborne, he turned left, but could not hold altitude. The airplane impacted a field just south of the airstrip. Witnesses reported that the airplane pulled up and then stalled, or got slow and then stalled in the turn. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector and a technical representative from the airframe manufacturer responded to the accident site. The airplane’s control continuity and the presence of fuel were confirmed on-site. The FAA inspector added that a witness reported that the engine maintained power throughout the accident sequence. An examination of the engine by the inspector and technical representative did not reveal any preimpact abnormalities. The inspector added that both blades of the fixed pitch propeller had leading edge polishing with one blade twisted back, towards the airframe. During the crash, the airplane sustained heavy impact damage including nearly severing the fuselage just aft of the cabin area. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N73182](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N73182-2014-04-04), registration cancelled 2014-04-04, S/N 17267309, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17267309 - Airframe hours: 4704 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Sudmann Elimar F - Registered owner: Sudmann Elimar F - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, February 2, 2012 - Departed: KAIO, Atlantic, IA - Destination: Griswold, IA - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: Private ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 7, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 1,111 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 1,100 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: KAIO, 10 nm away ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 14, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84144. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 909 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375306&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Reports from Local Agencies (item 2, .PDF, 408 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375307&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Local%20Agencies-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375311&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 4, .PDF, 243 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375309&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF - Photo: Accident airplane (FAA photo) (item 5, .PDF, 781 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375313&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%3A%20Accident%20airplane%20%20%20%20%20%20%20(FAA%20photo)-Master.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.