ERA20CA146

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172 · Hollywood, FL · April 1, 2020

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
April 1, 2020, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC)
Place
Hollywood, FL
Injuries
3 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N734HFCessna 172
Defining event
Approach-VFR go-around: Aerodynamic stall/spin
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report August 3, 2020
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Eastern Region Aviation
Parties
FAA FSDO
FAA report
20200401002969A
Case key
101153

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 failure to apply full engine power during the initiation of a go-around in gusting wind conditions and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall at low altitude, and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action.

Findings · 5

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Use of equip/info: use of equip/systemPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotAll aircraft: 1,391 casesProbable cause
Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Action: delayed actionPersonnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilotAll aircraft: 894 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: angle of attackAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceededAll aircraft: 990 casesProbable cause
Wind: gustsEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operationAll aircraft: 1,199 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The flight instructor reported that, during a flight review, the private pilot completed five touch-and-go landings in gusting wind conditions. During the landing flare for the sixth touch-and-go landing, a strong wind gust forced the airplane out of ground effect, and the instructor called for a go-around. During the go-around, the pilot did not add full power, and the instructor took the flight controls; however, the airplane had already stalled. Subsequently, the airplane descended, impacted the left side of the runway, continued off the runway into grass, and nosed over. The right wing and vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage. The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunction or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Factual narrative

The flight instructor reported that during a flight review, the private pilot had completed 6 touch and go landings, in gusty wind conditions. During the subsequent approach, while the airplane was in the landing flare, a strong wind gust forced the airplane out of ground effect, and the instructor called for a go-around. The instructor reported during the go-around, the private pilot did not add full power, and he took the flight controls, however, as he did so, the airplane was already in an aerodynamic stall. Subsequently, the airplane descended, rolled to the left, and impacted the left side of the runway, where it continued into the grass and nosed over. The right wing and vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage. The flight instructor reported that there were no mechanical malfunction or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations.

Aircraft

Registration
N734HF
Reported as
Cessna 172 (N)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17268861
Built
1977
Airframe hours
7,106
Engine
Lycoming O-320-H2AD, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Aeroflyin Corp, doing business as Icaro Learn2fly
Registered owner
Aeroflyin Corp
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · March 25, 2020
Departed
HWO · Hollywood, FL
Destination
HWO · Hollywood, FL
Airport
HWO · North Perry, runway 28R, 3,241 × 100 ft, asphalt
Equipment
ADS-B, Stall warning system

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
24
Injuries
None
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
November 22, 2019
Seat
Right
Flight hours
2,328.3 total · 1,867.4 in this make and model · 2,284.3 as pilot in command · 200.3 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Role
Pilot
Age
31
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Medical
Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
Seat
Left
Restraint
3-point
Flight hours
1,640.1 total · 340 in this make and model · 335.2 as pilot in command · 6.6 in the last 90 days · 3.4 in the last 30 days · 0.2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
290° at 13 knots, gusting 22
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
84 °F, dew point 54 °F
Altimeter
29.81 inHg
Observed at
HWO

Docket · 4

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 26, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.4 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.