# NTSB ERA21LA215: Cessna 172, N62568, Daytona Beach, FL, May 14, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 14, 2021, 11:34 local (15:34 UTC)
- Place: Daytona Beach, FL
- Coordinates: 29.179917, -81.058056
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.1799&lon=-81.0581&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103084
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA215
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103084/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103084
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA215

## Probable cause

Both pilots’ failure to maintain control during the landing flare and the flight instructor’s failure to maintain control during an attempted go-around, in gusting quartering headwind conditions, which resulted in the exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall at low altitude.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 206 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 206 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md)
- [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 172S, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 49 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072439), [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 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 flight instructor and a private pilot receiving instruction stated completed commercial pilot training maneuvers uneventfully and were returning to the airport for a full stop landing. The flight instructor advised the student to fly a higher approach speed due to a right quartering headwind at 10 knots, gusting to 18 knots. As the airplane entered ground effect, the nose was pointed 45° right of runway centerline. The instructor then took control of the airplane, along with the student, and tried to correct; however, the airplane drifted left of the runway. The instructor initiated a go-around, but the airplane pitched up, yawed left, and impacted a grass area consistent with an aerodynamic stall. It sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The instructor added that she lost control of the airplane and that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N62568](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N62568-2022-07-16), registration cancelled 2022-07-16, S/N 172S10726, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (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: 172S10726
- Year built: 2008
- Airframe hours: 12863
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Phoenix East Aviation
- Registered owner: Christiansen Aviation Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 13, 2021, 100 hours before
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: DAB, Daytona Beach International Airport, runway 34, 6,001 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 31; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 5, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 297 total, 281 in this make and model, 205 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 28; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 26, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 230 total, 130 in this make and model, 129 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 17 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observed at: DAB

## 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 20210514004409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210514004409A), May 14, 2021: Cessna 172S, Daytona Beach, FL, Substantial damage. The aircraft departed Daytona Beach International Airport, (kdab) at approximately 10AM for an instructional flight. The instructor (CFI) was in the right seat…

## Other investigations on N62568 (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 ERA10CA326](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA326), Jun 9, 2010: Cessna 172 (N62568), New Smyrna Beach, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s improper landing flare, and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 2, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103084. 2.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 13 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12318172&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Weather report (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 137 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12318592&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Metars-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 442 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12319239&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.

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