GAA17CA341

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172 · Galena, ID · June 14, 2017

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
June 14, 2017, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC)
Place
Galena, ID
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N9912QCessna 172
Defining event
Takeoff: Abrupt maneuver
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report June 10, 2019
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
General Aviation Accidents
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20170614005359A
Case key
95376

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 exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in a power-on stall and subsequent loss of airplane control.

Findings · 3

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.

Performance/control parameters: pitch controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedCessna 172M: 9 casesAll aircraft: 526 casesProbable cause
Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotCessna 172M: 123 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Object/animal/substance: fence/fence postEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcomeCessna 172M: 5 casesAll aircraft: 313 cases

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 pilot reported that he was attempting to perform a crosswind, soft-field takeoff from a dry, turf airstrip. He set the flaps to 10°, and the airplane was in a nose-high attitude until the stall warning horn sounded. He then relaxed pressure on the yoke until the stall warning horn stopped. Shortly after liftoff, the airplane entered a power-on stall, and the pilot lost airplane control, and the airplane then began to descend to the runway. The airplane subsequently departed the runway and impacted a barbed wire fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Factual narrative

The pilot in the airplane reported that he attempted to perform a crosswind, soft-field take off from a dry turf airstrip. The pilot configured the airplane with full throttle application, flaps 10°, and a nose high attitude until the stall warning horn sounded. He then relaxed pressure on the yoke until the stall warning horn subsided. Shortly after rotation the airplane entered a power-on stall and the pilot lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane impacted a barbed wire fence and sustained substantial damage to the right wing strut. Per the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented, if he had received instruction from a Federal Aviation Administration Certificated Flight Instructor that was specific to the accident airplane, specifically for a soft-field takeoff because each individual aircraft has nuances that can affect the operation. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Aircraft

Registration
N9912Q
Reported as
Cessna 172 (M)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17265856
Built
1975
Airframe hours
9,660.5
Engine
Lycoming O-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Ponderosa Aero Club
Registered owner
Andy Patrick
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · June 2, 2017
Departed
KBOI · Boise, ID
Destination
U87 · Smiley Creek, ID
Flight plan
VFR
Airport
U87 · Smiley Creek, runway 32, 4,900 × 150 ft, grass/turf
Equipment
Stall warning system

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
65
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
May 24, 2017
Seat
Left
Restraint
3-point
Flight hours
369 total · 150 in this make and model · 327 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Variable at 3 knots
Temperature
48 °F, dew point 39 °F
Altimeter
30.13 inHg
Observed at
KSNT, 17 nm away

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 1, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.5 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.

Other investigations on N9912Q · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.