- Date
- June 30, 2019, 14:50 local (18:50 UTC)
- Place
- Manteo, NC
- Injuries
- 4 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N78658Cessna 172
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 13, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20190630008709A
- Case key
- 99794
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 failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
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.
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, during initial climb, he "started to feel the airspeed drop" and that he attempted to regain airspeed by lowering the airplane's nose. The airspeed continued to drop, and the airplane aerodynamically stalled and subsequently impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, the horizontal stabilizer, and the elevator. 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 take off initial climb, he "started to feel the airspeed drop," he corrected by using, "nose down to gain airspeed." The airspeed continued to drop, the airplane aerodynamically stalled, and subsequently, collided with the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, horizontal stabilizer and the elevator. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 290° at 7 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The airplane was taking off from runway 35.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N78658
- Reported as
- Cessna 172 (K)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17257708
- Built
- 1968
- Airframe hours
- 3,918.9
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Operator
- Obx Airplanes Llc
- Registered owner
- Obx Airplanes Llc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · May 29, 2019
- Departed
- MQI · Manteo, NC
- Destination
- MQI · Manteo, NC
- Airport
- MQI · Dare County Rgnl, runway 35, 3,301 × 73 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Unknown
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
- 26
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 26, 2019
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 417.2 total · 61.9 in this make and model · 355.5 as pilot in command · 77.6 in the last 90 days · 58.7 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 7 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 93 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.85 inHg
- Observed at
- KMQI, 1 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 19, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.8 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.