- Date
- June 15, 2011, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place
- Belle Glades, FL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N4954GCessna 172N
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 19, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20110615013249A
- Case key
- 80798
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 NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during the landing approach.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings.
Analysis
The pilot reported that while conducting flight maneuvers he encountered inclement weather. After electing to divert to a nearby airport, he encountered gusting wind and rain showers in the landing pattern. He was unable to land on his first approach due to a gusting crosswind. After conducting a go-around and reattempting a landing approach, the pilot was unable to align the aircraft due to the wind and attempted a second go-around. However, the gusting wind caused him to lose control of the airplane, which subsequently impacted the ground. During the accident sequence, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and firewall. The wind in the vicinity was reported to be 15 knots with gusts of 28 knots. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that while conducting flight maneuvers he encountered inclement weather. After electing to divert to a nearby airport, he encountered high winds, gusting winds, and rain showers in the landing pattern. He was unable to land on his first approach due to a gusting cross wind. After conducting a go-around, reattempting a landing approach, the pilot was unable to align the aircraft due to the winds and attempted a second go-around. However, the gusting wind caused him to lose control of the airplane and subsequently impacted the ground. During the accident sequence, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and firewall. Winds in the vicinity were reported at 15 knots with gusts of 28 knots. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4954G
- Reported as
- Cessna 172N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17273501
- Airframe hours
- 9,545
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 SERIES, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Ari Ben Aviator Inc
- Registered owner
- Ari Ben Aviator Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 22, 2011 · 86 hours before
- Departed
- FPR · Fort Pierce, FL
- Destination
- FPR · Fort Pierce, FL
- Airport
- X10 · Belle Glade State Municipal, runway 09, 3,700 × 50 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
- 44
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Military, Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 1
- Last flight review
- June 13, 2011
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 4,992 total · 42 in this make and model · 3,213 as pilot in command · 60 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 110° at 15 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility
- 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.96 inHg
- Observed at
- OBE, 35 nm away
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 17, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.7 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.