# NTSB CEN13CA498: Cessna 172S, N45EF, Indianapolis, IN, August 21, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 21, 2013, 19:15 local (23:15 UTC)
- Place: Indianapolis, IN
- Coordinates: 40.030555, -86.251388 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0306&lon=-86.2514&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 2, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- NTSB case key (mKey): 87831
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA498
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87831/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87831
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA498

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate monitoring on the airplane's airspeed during the go-around, resulting in a stall.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR go-around: 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)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During the landing flare, about 2-4 feet above the runway, the right wing dropped. The pilot advanced the throttle full forward and attempted a go-around. During the go-around the airspeed decreased below 40 knots, the airplane stalled, and landed hard. The right main landing gear collapsed which resulted in substantial damage to the firewall and fuselage. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented by closely monitoring and maintaining an airspeed above the stall speed.

## Factual narrative

During the landing flare, about 2-4 feet above the runway, the right wing dropped. The pilot advanced the throttle full forward and attempted a go-around. During the go-around the airspeed decreased below 40 knots, the airplane stalled, and landed hard. The right main landing gear collapsed which resulted in substantial damage to the firewall and fuselage. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented by closely monitoring and maintaining an airspeed above the stall speed.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N45EF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N45EF), registered now, S/N 172S8982, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S
- Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172S8982
- Airframe hours: 5550
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 13, 2013
- Departed: KTYQ, Indianapolis, IN
- Destination: KTYQ, Indianapolis, IN
- Airport: KTYQ, Indianapolis Executive, runway 18, 5,500 × 100 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 24; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 53 total, 42 in this make and model, 10 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: KTYQ

## 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 20130821015319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130821015319A), Aug 21, 2013: Cessna 172S, Zionsville, IN, Substantial damage. On August 21, 2013, at approximately 1915 local time, a Cessna 172S, N45EF, registered to eagle flyers ii LLC, crashed during takeoff and landing practice at…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 22, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87831. 1.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400133&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.