# NTSB ERA20LA105: Cessna 172, N5185R, Fayetteville, NC, February 17, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 17, 2020, 13:35 local (18:35 UTC) - Place: Fayetteville, NC - Coordinates: 34.893611, -78.843612 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8936&lon=-78.8436&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 4 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 100961 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20LA105 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100961/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100961 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA105 ## Probable cause The passenger’s excessive control application during the takeoff and the flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Passenger (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 47 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor was taking three local community college students on an orientation flight. The passenger in the front left seat was on the controls with the instructor during the takeoff. Witnesses observed the airplane pitch up aggressively during the takeoff, approaching a near vertical attitude before stalling and impacting the ground adjacent to the runway. The engine continued to run normally during the event. A rear seat passenger reported that the flight instructor told the passenger to let go of the controls, but that the passenger continued pulling back. The front seat passenger stated that after the airplane “tilted too far back” during the takeoff, he kept his hands on the yoke for several seconds before he eventually let go. Due to the extent of his injuries, the flight instructor did not recall the event. All four occupants sustained serious injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. An examination of the wreckage did not reveal evidence of a mechanical malfunction or anomaly. Given this information, it is likely that the front seat passenger who was manipulating the controls with the pilot applied excessive back pressure on the yoke, resulting in an over rotation, aggressive initial climb, and subsequent aerodynamic stall. The flight instructor’s remedial actions were not sufficient to prevent the stall, and the airplane subsequently impacted the ground. ## Factual narrative On February 17, 2020, about 1535 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172M, N5185R, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Fayetteville, North Carolina. The flight instructor and three passengers were seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. According to information provided by the operator and witness statements, the purpose of the flight was to orient local community college students with general aviation. The pilot, who was also a flight instructor, was seated in the right cockpit seat. The passengers occupied the other three seats. During the takeoff, the passenger in the left seat was on the flight controls with the instructor. Witnesses watching the takeoff (some of whom were flight instructors), described that as soon as the main wheels left the runway, the airplane pitched up aggressively. The airplane pitched up to a higher-than-normal pitch attitude, stalled, then collided with terrain adjacent to the runway. They also reported that the engine continued to run normally during the accident sequence. The evening of the accident, one of the flight instructors employed by the operator visited the hospital and spoke to the passengers. She reported that one of the rear seat passengers described to her that during the takeoff the flight instructor called out for the passenger to let go; however, the passenger did not relinquish the controls. She further described that she started screaming as the airplane descended toward the ground. In a deposition taken after the accident, the front seat passenger stated that before the takeoff, the flight instructor provided him with instructions on when to initiate the takeoff. He recalled that between a speed of 70 to 80 mph, the flight instructor would tell him to either “push in or pull out” the airplane’s control yoke. The passenger could not recall which direction he moved the yoke during the takeoff but stated that when the airplane reached about 75 mph the instructor told him to rotate the airplane slowly. After lifting off, the airplane “tilted too far back” and the passenger was only able to see the sky out of the airplane’s windscreen. He stated that the airplane, “started going straight up” and “…I was kind of, you know, freaking out…” As the airplane lifted off, his hands were still on the yoke. As the airplane pitched up, he took his hands off the yoke. He estimated that he kept his hands on the yoke after liftoff for a “couple of seconds.” He also stated that no one told him to take his hands off the yoke before he took his hands off the yoke. The flight instructor called out that he was trying to regain control and not to touch anything. The airplane began descending as “alerts” were going off in the cockpit, and the airplane subsequently impacted the ground. Inspectors with the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. The fuselage and bothwings were structurally damaged. The propeller separated from the engine. They reported that their examination of the airplane did not reveal any evidence of a mechanical malfunction or anomaly. They also calculated the airplane’s estimated weight and balance at the time of the accident, finding that the airplane was below its maximum gross weight and within center of gravity limits. The operator also reported that there were no mechanical issues with the airplane prior to the accident. The flight instructor, due to the severity of his injuries, did not recall the event. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5185R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5185R-2020-07-22), registration cancelled 2020-07-22, S/N 17263402, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (M) - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17263402 - Year built: 1974 - Airframe hours: 6863 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Cape Fear Aviation Maintenance Llc - Registered owner: Cape Fear Aviation Maintenance Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 6, 2020, 98 hours before - Departed: 2GC, Fayetteville, NC - Destination: 2GC, Fayetteville, NC - Airport: 2GC, Grays Creek, runway 35, 3,500 × 30 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 19; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 7, 2019; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 533 total, 187 in this make and model, 393 as pilot in command, 46 in the last 90 days, 43 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: KFAY, 6 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 20200217014479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200217014479A), Feb 17, 2020: Cessna 172M, Fayetteville, NC, Destroyed. Taken from witness statements: During takeoff, N5185R pitched up to nearly vertical, climbed up to between 60 to 80 feet above ground level, the nose dropped… ## Other investigations on N5185R (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 CHI79DEG11](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79DEG11), Apr 22, 1979: Cessna 172M (N5185R), Versailles, OH, substantial damage ## Docket (11 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 4, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100961. 14.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 7.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9426119&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1%206120%201_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Cover letter from front left seat passenger (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 41 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13376589&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Justin%20Elliott_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Excerpts from deposition of front left seat passenger (item 3, PDF, 67 pages, 736 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13376901&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Excerpts%20from%20Condensed%20Select%20Pages%20Transcript_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB memorandum for record - j elliott statement (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 130 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13377938&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20508%20J%20Elliott-Rel.pdf - Witness statements - biddinger (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9425947&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2%20Biddinger%20statement2020-02-21-144542_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Witness statements - humphrey (item 6, PDF, 3 pages, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9426602&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=3%20Elayne%20Humphrey%20Statement%20N5185R%20Cape%20Fear%20Aviation-Rel.pdf - NTSB correspondence - humphrey (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 587 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11379461&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Correspondence%20-%20Humphrey_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Witness statement - davis (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9425002&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=4%20JessicaDavisStatement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement - allen (item 9, PDF, 1 page, 332 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9426531&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=5%20Inspector%20Statement%20Allen-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement - paczkowski (item 10, PDF, 2 pages, 206 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9426393&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6%20Inspector%20Statement%20Paczkowski_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 11, PDF, 7 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9426642&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.