# NTSB DFW08CA011: Cessna 172, N65591, McAllen, TX, October 12, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 12, 2007, 13:34 local (18:34 UTC)
- Place: McAllen, TX
- Coordinates: 26.175832, -98.238609
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1758&lon=-98.2386&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 20, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: San Antonio, Texas
- NTSB case key (mKey): 66889
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW08CA011
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66889/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08CA011

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during the landing approach resulting in an inadvertent stall.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, landing
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

The 104-hour student pilot was attempting a full-stop landing with the aircraft configured with 20 degrees of flaps and the throttle at idle.  The pilot reported that after he flared for the landing, the aircraft pitched-up and began drifting to the left.  The pilot responded by applying full-right rudder and retracting the flaps to 10 degrees.  This is the last event the pilot can recall in the accident sequence.  The airplane impacted the ground in a nose-low attitude, nosed-over and came to rest in the inverted position 150 feet from the left side of Runway 13.  An examination of the airplane revealed the nose landing gear had been sheared off and structural damage was sustained to the nose cone, propeller, engine compartment, fuselage, left wing and tail section.  The wind at the time of the mishap was reported from 090 degrees at 5 knots.  The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures prior to the mishap.

## Factual narrative

The 104-hour student pilot was attempting a full-stop landing with the aircraft configured with 20 degrees of flaps and the throttle at idle.  The pilot reported that after he flared for the landing, the aircraft pitched-up and began drifting to the left.  The pilot responded by applying full-right rudder and retracting the flaps to 10 degrees.  This is the last event the pilot can recall in the accident sequence.  The airplane impacted the ground in a nose-low attitude, nosed-over and came to rest in the inverted position 150 feet from the left side of Runway 13.  An examination of the airplane revealed the nose landing gear had been sheared off and structural damage was sustained to the nose cone, propeller, engine compartment, fuselage, left wing and tail section.  The wind at the time of the mishap was reported from 090 degrees at 5 knots.  The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures prior to the mishap.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N65591](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N65591-2012-11-01), registration cancelled 2012-11-01, S/N 17275781, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17275781
- Airframe hours: 5379
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: McCreery Aviation Company Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2007
- Departed: MFE, McAllen, TX
- Airport: MFE, Mc Allen Miller Intl, runway 13, 7,120 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 58; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 104 total, 104 in this make and model, 34 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observed at: MFE

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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