# NTSB GAA19CA258: Cessna 172, N21794, Dexter, MI, May 11, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 11, 2019, 17:38 local (22:38 UTC) - Place: Dexter, MI - Coordinates: 42.426944, -83.866668 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4269&lon=-83.8667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report August 25, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99417 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA258 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99417/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99417 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA258 ## Probable cause The airplane's failure to maintain a climb for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/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 pilot reported that he configured the airplane with 10º of flaps during a soft-field takeoff with a takeoff run of about 600 ft. After the initial climb and while the airplane was about 75 knots, he retracted the flaps, trimmed the airplane for normal climb, and verified full engine power. About 100 ft above ground level and about two-thirds down the runway, the airplane started to decelerate to about 65 knots. He stated that he leveled the airplane and did not hear the stall warning horn activate or notice if the engine rpm had decreased or stopped producing power, just that the airplane was losing airspeed and that he had no idea what caused it. The pilot verified that the throttle was full open, the mixture was full rich, the carburetor heat was off, and the elevators were in the neutral position, but the airplane continued to decelerate and rapidly descend. In an attempt to level the airplane, he smoothly pulled the yoke aft, but the airplane did not pitch up. The nosewheel impacted the ground, and the airplane nosed over. The tail cone and both wings sustained substantial damage. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that a postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no evidence of any mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The airline transport pilot reported that he configured the airplane with 10º of flaps during a soft field takeoff with a takeoff run of about 600 ft. After the initial climb, about 75 knots, he retracted the flaps, trimmed the aircraft for normal climb, and verified full engine power. About 100 ft above the ground and about two-thirds down the runway, the airplane started to decelerate to about 65 knots. He leveled the airplane and did not hear the stall warning horn activate nor recalled if the engine RPMs decreased or if the engine failed producing power. The airplane continued to decelerate and rapidly descended even when the pilot verified that the throttle was full open, the mixture full rich, the carburetor heat off, and the elevators at neutral position. Before impact, in an attempt to level the airplane, he smoothly pulled the yoke aft, but the airplane did not pitch up. The nosewheel impacted the ground and the airplane nosed over. The tailcone and both wings were substantially damaged. A post examination of the airplane by the Federal Aviation Administration inspector, engine and airframe continuity were confirmed. The inspector further reported that the s-bend damage to the propeller was consistent with the engine producing power. The inspector added that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N21794](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N21794-2021-06-11), registration cancelled 2021-06-11, S/N 17264023, built 1975 (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: 17264023 - Year built: 1975 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 SERIES reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Solo Aviation - Registered owner: Repholz Charles - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Departed: ARB, Ann Arbor, MI - Destination: 2E8, Dexter, MI - Airport: 2E8, Cackleberry, runway 06, 2,113 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: serious; private, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 5, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 4,660 total, 110 in this make and model, 1,976 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KARB, 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 20190511024679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190511024679A), May 11, 2019: Cessna 172M, Dexter, MI, Substantial damage. Departed runway 06 at 2E8, during climb out after soft field takeoff the pilot raised the flaps approximately 70-100 feet above the ground and the aircraft… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99417. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485202&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485203&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Operator Statement (item 3, .PDF, 137 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485204&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Operator%20Statement-Master.PDF - FAA Record of Conversation (item 4, .PDF, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485205&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 5, .PDF, 169 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485206&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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. --- 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.