# NTSB GAA19CA412: Cessna 172, N35585, Elkton, FL, July 14, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 14, 2019, 09:21 local (13:21 UTC) - Place: Elkton, FL - Coordinates: 29.901111, -81.3125 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9011&lon=-81.3125&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99842 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA412 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99842/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99842 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA412 ## Probable cause The pilot under instruction's failure to follow the flight instructor’s directions and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action and subsequent 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. - [Communication (personnel): following instructions](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063537): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063537/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063537/cases.md) - [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) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: 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) - [Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Landing: 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) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that he had demonstrated a simulated engine failure and recovery at altitude to the pilot under instruction, and he subsequently asked the pilot to perform a simulated engine failure and recovery. The instructor allowed the pilot to descend over an open field, and he recalled instructing the pilot to "recover" and abort the landing about 200 ft above ground level. However, the pilot failed to do so, and the flight instructor took the controls. The airplane subsequently stalled, impacted terrain, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the engine mounts. The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor reported that he had demonstrated a simulated engine failure and recovery at altitude to the pilot-under-instruction (PUI), and he subsequently asked the PUI to perform a simulated engine failure and recovery. Operating over an open field, the flight instructor allowed the pilot to descend over the field, and he recalled instructing the pilot to "Recover" and abort the landing about 200ft AGL. Failing to do so, the flight instructor came on the controls about 50 knots airspeed and about 100ft AGL, the airplane stalled, collided with the ground, and subsequently nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the engine mounts. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N35585](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N35585-2022-07-25), registration cancelled 2022-07-25, S/N 172S8873 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (S) - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8873 - Airframe hours: 7317.5 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Christiansen Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Christiansen Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 31, 2019 - Departed: SGJ, Saint Augustine, FL - Destination: SGJ, Saint Augustine, FL - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 24, 2018; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,030 total, 300.7 in this make and model, 932.7 as pilot in command, 146.6 in the last 90 days, 62.7 in the last 30 days, 2.2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 3, 2019; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 271 total, 215 in this make and model, 223 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1.5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 79 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: KSGJ, 4 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 20190714011679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190714011679A), Jul 14, 2019: Cessna 172S, Elkton, FL, Substantial damage. The flight instructor was giving dual instruction for a commercial pilot to get his flight instructor rating. The pilots were practicing off field emergency… ## Other investigations on N35585 (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 ERA21LA314](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA314), Jun 17, 2021: Cessna 172S (N35585), Clarksville, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action during takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 5, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99842. 3.5 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=40478615&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 145 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478616&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.