# NTSB GAA17CA476: Cessna 172, N8226U, Drexel, MO, August 5, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 4, 2017, 19:23 local (Aug 5, 2017, 00:23 UTC)
- Place: Drexel, MO
- Coordinates: 38.540279, -94.560554 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5403&lon=-94.5606&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 15, 2017
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 95770
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA476
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95770/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95770
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA476

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

## 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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072414), [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 172F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, during the initial climb, the airplane aerodynamically stalled and impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, during the initial climb, the airplane aerodynamically stalled and impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8226U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8226U-2018-05-02), registration cancelled 2018-05-02, S/N 17252126, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (F)
- Registry model: [Cessna 172F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (registry code 2072414) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17252126
- Year built: 1964
- Engines: CONT MOTOR O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2017
- Departed: Drexel, MO
- Destination: LXT, LEE'S SUMMIT, MO
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 26, 2017; seat: left; flight hours: 2,026 total, 1,700 in this make and model, 1,960 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observed at: KLRY, 11 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 20170804012779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170804012779A), Aug 4, 2017: Cessna 172F, Drexel, MO, Substantial damage. Pilot attempted to take off down hill from an unimproved dirt surface located at a construction site. The top soil had been removed down to a clay surface. The…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 25, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95770. 3.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457305&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 299 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457306&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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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