- Date
- March 25, 1989, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place
- Albuquerque, NM
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2972XCessna 177RG
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 22, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890325004479A
- Case key
- 17584
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper use of flaps during takeoff which resulted in inadequate airspeed, a stall, and loss of control.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Surviving pax said acft banked steeply to left after takeoff and shuddered. He saw plt reach for flap control handle. Pax remembered horn blowing in background. Witnesses said acft speed and climb rate were slow and saw acft wobble and dip wings. One witness, in line with acft takeoff path, saw flaps being retracted slightly. Examination of wreckage disclosed flap jackscrew extended 10 threads or 1.66 inches, equivalent to aprx 14 deg flaps down. Manufacturer suggests take off with flaps up or 1/4 (7.5 deg) down. Plt was known to have habit of starting takeoff roll with flaps up and, as liftoff speed was attained, to 'slap' flap handle down to detent (1/4 or 7.5 deg setting). Experimentation later showed that it was possible to slap flap handle inadvertently past detent or full down position.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2972X
- Reported as
- Cessna 177RG
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 177000372
- Airframe hours
- 1,624
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Jay E. Wetzel
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 14, 1988 · 15 hours before
- Departed
- 4AC
- Destination
- DVT · Phoenix, AZ
- Airport
- 4AC · Coronado, runway 17, 4,010 × 60 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 45
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,700 total · 1,400 in this make and model · 5 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ABQ, 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.
Other investigations on N2972X · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.