# NTSB IAD97LA063: Cessna 172N, N739AH, Annapolis, MD, April 9, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 9, 1997, 08:12 local (13:12 UTC) - Place: Annapolis, MD - Coordinates: 38.899784, -76.539009 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8998&lon=-76.5390&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 28, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28186 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD97LA063 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28186/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD97LA063 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to raise the flaps during the go-around. Factors involved were the high wind conditions and the pilot's failure to remove the carburetor heat. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr) - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) - raising of flaps - not performed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - carburetor heat - not removed, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - climb - not attained, pilot in command(cfi) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - open field ## Analysis The flight instructor was briefed the winds in the local area were about 13 knots with gusts up to 21 knots. The instructor and student pilot then departed on a training flight. On short final for his third landing, the student had 65 knots on the airspeed indicator, 30 degrees of flaps set, and the carburetor heat on. As the student flared the airplane, a gust of wind lifted the right wing, and the instructor took control of the airplane. The instructor was unable to aligned the airplane with the runway. He added full power, did not touch the flaps or carburetor heat, and executed a go around. When the instructor added power, the nose of the airplane pulled more to the left, and the ground track was in line with two hangars. He avoided the hangars, but was heading for a small field. Unable to maintain level flight, and in an attempt to gain airspeed, the flight instructor lowered the nose of the airplane. The airplane continued to descend, and the flight instructor stated that 'he flared as much as possible to soften the touchdown (impact).' According to information manual for the aircraft , 'In a balked landing (go around) climb, reduce the flap setting to 20 degrees immediately after full power is applied. If obstacles must be cleared during the go-around climb, reduce the wing flap setting to 10 degrees and maintain a safe airspeed until the obstacles are cleared...after clearing any obstacles, the flaps may be retracted as the airplane accelerates to the normal flaps-up climb speed.' ## Factual narrative On April 9, 1997, about 0812 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172N, N739AH, was substantially damaged as it impacted the terrain after a go around at the Lee Airport, Annapolis, Maryland. The certificated flight instructor and student pilot were uninjured. The airplane was registered to the Fort Meade Flying Activity and owned by Fort Meade's Morale, Welfare and Recreation. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight instructor stated that he received a weather briefing from the local flight service for two local airports, which were reporting winds of about 13 knots, and gusts up to 21 knots. He stated that the winds at Lee Airport were about 12 to 15 knots from 320 degrees magnetic. The flight instructor reported that the student pilot completed two takeoffs and landings from runway 30, without encountering any turbulence. He stated that the student was established on the glide slope for the third landing with 65 knots airspeed, 30 degrees flaps, and on centerline. With the runway made, the student reduced the power and began to flare the airplane. The flight instructor reported the right wing lifted dramatically and he immediately took control of the airplane. Unable to keep the airplane parallel to the runway, the flight instructor stated that he added full power. He reported that he did not raise the flaps, nor did he turn off the carburetor heat. He stated that the nose of the airplane pulled more to the left, and the airplane's ground track was in line with two small hangers. The airplane climbed about 100 feet and cleared the hangars, but was heading for a small field bordered by large trees and houses. Unable to maintain level flight at full power, the flight instructor stated that he lowered the nose slightly in an attempt to gain airspeed. The airplane continued to descend and the flight instructor reported that he flared as much as possible to soften the touchdown. An examination of the wreckage was completed by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector. He reported that the nose and left main landing gear collapsed. The left wing and stabilizer spars were damaged, and the engine firewall and the cabin structure forward of the left wing strut attaching point were buckled. The flight instructor reported that most of his flight experience was in rotorcraft and he recently obtained his airplane flight instructor rating. The flight instructor had a total of 18 hours as a flight instructor, 5.8 hours were in make and model airplane. The Cessna model 172N Information Manual stated, "In a balked landing (go around) climb, reduce the flap setting to 20 degrees immediately after full power is applied. If obstacles must be cleared during the go-around climb, reduce the wing flap setting to 10 degrees and maintain a safe airspeed until the obstacles are cleared...after clearing any obstacles, the flaps may be retracted as the airplane accelerates to the normal flaps-up climb speed." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N739AH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N739AH-1997-09-19), registration cancelled 1997-09-19, S/N 17270386 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17270386 - Airframe hours: 3726 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Fort Meade Flying Activity - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 7, 1997, 3 hours before - Departed: ANP - Destination: ANP - Airport: ANP, Annapolis, runway 30, 2,505 × 48 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; military, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 1,875 total, 42 in this make and model, 1,299 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 15 knots, gusting 23 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point -0 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BWI, 17 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 19970409005499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970409005499A), Apr 9, 1997: Cessna 172N, Anapolis, MD, Substantial damage. Aircraft was attempting go around on runway 30 when it crashed in a corn field. 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.