# NTSB FTW97LA104: Cessna 172M, N80814, San Antonio, TX, February 16, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 16, 1997, 12:39 local (18:39 UTC) - Place: San Antonio, TX - Coordinates: 29.539873, -98.489273 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5399&lon=-98.4893&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20158 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA104 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20158/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA104 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed resulting in an inadvertent stall. A factor was the pilot's lack of recent experience. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/spin, pilot in command - lack of recent experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - object - hangar/airport building ## Analysis The private pilot had not flown for over a year, so he elected to rent an airplane and fly to a nearby airport to practice takeoffs and landings. The pilot reported that while on his fifth approach to a full stop landing on runway 14, 'he found himself high for landing and allowed his airspeed to get too slow after he configured the airplane with full flaps.' According to the pilot: 'a gust of wind flipped the right wing upward, sending the airplane into a diving turn to the left.' The left wing separated from the airframe after the airplane impacted the door of a hangar located on the east side of the runway. The winds at the time of the accident were reported as calm. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunction and stated that he did not hear the sound of the stall warning horn. ## Factual narrative On February 16, 1997, at 1239 central standard time, a Cessna 172M was substantially damaged following a lost of control while landing near San Antonio, Texas. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. The airplane was owned and operated by Wright Flyers Inc., of San Antonio, Texas, on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight for which a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated from the San Antonio International Airport, at approximately 1130. According to the pilot, "he had not flown for over a year, so he elected to rent an airplane and fly to the Stinson Municipal Airport to practice some takeoffs and landings." The pilot reported to the FAA inspector that while on his fifth approach to a full stop landing on runway 14, "he found himself high for landing and allowed his airspeed to get too slow after he configured the airplane with full flaps." The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions and stated that he did not hear the sound of the stall warning horn. On the enclosed NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that "a gust of wind flipped the right wing upward, sending the airplane into a diving turn to the left." The left wing separated from the airframe after the airplane impacted the door of a hangar located on the east side of the runway. The hangar sustained minor damage and a cowling on the airplane parked in the hangar was damaged. The private pilot, who received his private pilot certificate in 1973, had accumulated a total of 157 hours. His last flight, which was also his last BFR, was performed on February 25, 1996. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N80814](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N80814-2017-03-06), registration cancelled 2017-03-06, S/N 17266759, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172M - 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: 172-66759 - Airframe hours: 3853 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Wright Flyers Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 18, 1996, 50 hours before - Departed: SAT, TX - Destination: SSF - Airport: SSF, Stinson Municipal, runway 14, 4,128 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 157 total, 58 in this make and model, 67 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SSF, 13 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 19970216001639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970216001639A), Feb 16, 1997: Cessna 172M, San Antonio, TX, Substantial damage. Aircraft stalled on final approach, crashed into a hangar. (-23) on February 16, 1997, Mr. Robert galvan, holder of private pilot certificate no. 452587215,… 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.