# NTSB GAA19CA439: Cessna 172, N78658, Manteo, NC, June 30, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 30, 2019, 14:50 local (18:50 UTC) - Place: Manteo, NC - Coordinates: 35.918888, -75.695556 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9189&lon=-75.6956&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 4 minor - Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 99794 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA439 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99794/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99794 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA439 ## 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. - [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 172K, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=2072430), [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 172K, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N78658-2020-06-04), registration cancelled 2020-06-04, S/N 17257708, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (K) - Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17257708 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 3918.9 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: none; 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 ## 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 20190630008709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190630008709A), Jun 30, 2019: Cessna 172K, Manteo, NC, Destroyed. The PIC took of with a full load of passengers. After lift off during the initial climb, the airspeed started to decrease and the aircraft stalled. The… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 19, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99794. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 569 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475966&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475967&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 3, .PDF, 3 photos, 690 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475968&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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.