# NTSB ERA16LA008: Cessna 172S, N5295Y, Seville, FL, October 10, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 10, 2015, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Seville, FL - Coordinates: 29.343055, -81.451942 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3431&lon=-81.4519&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 serious - Status: Completed, report January 25, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO, Lycoming - NTSB case key (mKey): 92150 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA16LA008 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92150/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92150 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA008 ## Probable cause The airplane’s encounter with a downdraft, and the pilot's decision to maneuver the airplane at a low altitude and airspeed, which provided insufficient time and altitude to recover before impacting terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 118 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot reported that, during a local flight, he encountered a downdraft while maneuvering the airplane between 300 and 600 ft above ground level at an airspeed about 75 knots. He stated that he attempted to recover, but the airplane continued to sink and subsequently impacted trees and terrain. Postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal evidence of any mechanical any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The conditions reported by the closest weather observation facility, located 23 nautical miles away, included scattered towering cumulus clouds and 6-knot winds. Additionally, towering cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds were noted near the airport. Atmospheric modeling data noted the potential for strong low-level thermal activity near the accident site about the time of the accident. Given the weather conditions that prevailed about the time of the accident, it is likely that the airplane encountered a downdraft; given the airplane's altitude and airspeed at the time of the encounter, the pilot had insufficient time to regain control of the airplane before it impacted the ground. ## Factual narrative On October 10, 2015, at 1400 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172S, N5295Y, was substantially damaged after a loss of control during a low altitude maneuver near Seville, Florida. The commercial pilot and pilot-rated passenger sustained serious injuries, and the rear seated passenger was fatally injured. The airplane was registered to Mike Bravo LLC., and operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions were reported near the accident site about the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The local flight originated from Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB), Daytona, Florida at 1300.According to the pilot, while flying about 600-650 feet above ground level (agl) at a speed of 75 knots with 20° of flaps, the airplane suddenly "fell out from under" him. The airplane lost 300-350 feet of altitude within a few seconds. He applied full power to recover the altitude but the airplane continued to "sink." He maneuvered the airplane towards a clearing to avoid trees, lost control, and collided with the ground. According to the operator of the airplane, the pilot called twice on the day of the accident. He initially called to apologize for the accident and in the evening, he called to explain what happened earlier that day. The pilot stated earlier that day he brought one passenger and then picked up another. He said that the intent of the flight was to "drop boxes" south of Lake Crescent, at a campsite managed by St. Johns River Water Management District. The pilot said he was aware that dropping objects out of the airplane was prohibited, but assured the operator that he had coordinated with the people on the ground to stay out of the way when the items were dropped. When the pilot reached the campsite, he descended to an altitude between 300 and 600 feet agl, configured the airplane with 20° of flaps, and slowed it to 75 knots. After successfully dropping several boxes, and during the final drop, the airplane encountered a downdraft and lost altitude. The pilot attempted to recover, but the airplane subsequently impacted trees and terrain. Examination of the airframe and engine by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The 1453 weather conditions reported at DAB included scattered, towering cumulus clouds at 3,500 feet, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 7,500 feet and a broken ceiling at 25,000 feet, and winds from 060° at 6 knots. Additionally, towering cumulus clouds were noted to the south, and cumulonimbus clouds were noted in the distance to the east, southwest, and northwest of the airport. DAB was located 23 nautical miles southeast of the accident site. The National Weather Service National Radar Mosaic for the period depicted isolated echoes associated with rain showers approximately 5 miles west and 10 miles southwest of the accident site, near Georgetownand Aster, Florida on the ends of Lake George, with a small isolated intense area of echoes immediately east of DAB at the time. A North American Mesoscale Model sounding for the area of the accident site suggested the potential for strong low-level thermal activity and an unstable atmosphere, with expected clouds developing near 3,000 feet agl. The sounding did not depict the presence of low-level turbulence or windshear. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5295Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5295Y-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 172S9236, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S (S) - 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: 172S9236 - Year built: 2002 - Airframe hours: 6119 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 22, 2014, 65 hours before - Departed: DAB, Daytona, FL - Destination: DAB, Daytona, FL - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 425 total, 340 in this make and model, 350 as pilot in command - Pilot-rated passenger; age 24; injuries: serious; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,300 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: KDAB, 23 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 20151010022379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151010022379A), Oct 10, 2015: Cessna 172S, Seville, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft N5295Y impacted ground after losing lift, while manuvering downwind to make a fifth air parachute drop of articals out of the aircraft not persons.… ## Other investigations on N5295Y (1) 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. - [NTSB ERA10CA505](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA505), Sep 25, 2010: Cessna 172S (N5295Y), Franconia, NH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s delay in initiating a go-around, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a fence. ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 30, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92150. 10.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457460&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 163 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457461&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF - Memorandum of Record - Pilot Flight Experience (item 3, .PDF, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457462&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Pilot%20Flight%20Experience-Master.PDF - Maintenance Records (item 4, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457463&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 5, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457464&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photos (Courtesy of Local Authorities) (item 6, .PDF, 4 photos, 964 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457465&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20Local%20Authorities)-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 7, .PDF, 261 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457466&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 8, .PDF, 113 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457467&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Master.PDF - Personal Electronic Devices Factual Report (item 9, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469565&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Personal%20Electronic%20Devices%20Factual%20Report-Master.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.