# NTSB CHI87LA117: Cessna 172P, N51881, Terre Haute, IN, April 25, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 24, 1987, 21:10 local (Apr 25, 1987, 02:10 UTC)
- Place: Terre Haute, IN
- Coordinates: 39.550319, -87.330078 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5503&lon=-87.3301&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 2, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13756
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI87LA117
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13756/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI87LA117

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - trim setting - improper, dual student (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, dual student (cause)
  - airspeed(vlof) - inadequate, dual student (contributing factor)
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - stall - not corrected, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AIRCRAFT STALLED ON TAKEOFF DURING AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT. NO MALFUNCTIONS OR MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED BY EITHER PILOT. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDED SMOOTH BUT DID NOT SEEM TO BE DEVELOPING FULL POWER. INSPECTION OF AIRCRAFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED THE TRIM TAB IN THE NOSE UP POSITION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N51881](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51881-1989-06-19), registration cancelled 1989-06-19, S/N 17274370 (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: 17274370
- Airframe hours: 3475
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Brown Flying School, Inc.
- Registered owner: B & F Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 20, 1987, 75 hours before
- Destination: IND, INDIANAPOLIS, IN
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 3I3, Sky King, runway 26, 3,565 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 367 total, 106 in this make and model, 218 as pilot in command, 74 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 10° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: HUF, 7 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 19870424011479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870424011479A), Apr 24, 1987: Cessna 172P, Terre Haute, IN, Substantial damage. The aircraft stalled on takeoff and hit the ground. Instructor failed to check trim which was almost full nose up.

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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