# NTSB LAX03CA208: Cessna 172K, N7342G, Overton, NV, June 22, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 22, 2003, 12:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Overton, NV - Coordinates: 36.777778, -114.375 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7778&lon=-114.3750&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57283 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03CA208 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57283/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03CA208 ## Probable cause the student pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed and his premature raising of the flaps during a go-around, which led to an inadvertent stall/mush. The flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight is also causal. ## 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) - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command(cfi) - raising of flaps - inadvertent, dual student (cause) - pull-up - excessive, dual student (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - airspeed - not maintained, dual student (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis During an attempted go-around from a simulated emergency landing, the airplane failed to achieve a positive climb rate and descended to ground impact. After full power was added in order to abort the simulated emergency landing at 200 feet agl, the student pitched the nose up and the airspeed began to decay as the airplane began sinking towards the terrain. The flaps, which had been in the full down position, were inadvertently retracted all at once, and a positive climb rate could not be established. The CFI attributed the accident to allowing the airplane to get too low and too slow. In their statements, both pilots agree that the engine responded normally and was generating full power, and that all flight controls functioned properly. ## Factual narrative On June 22, 2003, about 1200 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172K, N7342G, impacted terrain during an attempted go-around near Overton, Nevada. Silver Wing Aviation was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The certified flight instructor (CFI) pilot, the student pilot, and one passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The instructional cross-country flight departed North Las Vegas Airport (VGT), Las Vegas, Nevada, at 1015, en route to Perkins Field Airport (U08), Overton. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. The primary wreckage was at 36 degrees 46 minutes north latitude and 114 degrees 22 minutes west longitude. According to a written statement submitted by the CFI, the throttle was reduced to idle at 5,000 feet mean sea level (msl) to simulate an engine power loss. The student set up an approach to a dirt road for his simulated emergency landing. Power was advanced several times during the descent to ensure that the engine would respond when the recovery was initiated. Because they were in an undeveloped, unpopulated area, the CFI allowed the student to continue his approach to an estimated altitude of 200 feet above ground level (agl). Airspeed was about 70 miles per hour (mph) and flaps were in the full down position. At that point, the CFI advised the student to do a go-around. The student added power while the CFI retracted the first 10 degrees of flaps. The student pitched the nose up but there was insufficient airspeed to establish a climb. An excessive sink rate began and the flaps were inadvertently retracted completely. The airplane continued to sink further and impacted terrain about 100 feet southeast of the intended landing road. It came to rest inverted about 75 feet after the point of initial ground contact. In a subsequent interview, the CFI stated that he began "assisting the student" immediately after it was determined that the sink rate was excessive for the low altitude, but insists they were both responsible for controlling the airplane. He had retracted the first 10 degrees of flaps, and the student retracted the remainder. The Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) interviewed the student. He believed the CFI began controlling the airplane, but was unsure of when the switchover occurred. The student could not recall who had retracted the flaps. According to both the student and the CFI, the CFI never communicated that he was going to take the controls. The engine had been operating properly and responded normally after full power was added during the go-around. During the flight, no problems with the flight controls were noted. Both pilots attribute the accident to letting the airplane get too low and too slow. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7342G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7342G-2013-05-07), registration cancelled 2013-05-07, S/N 17259042, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172K - 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: 17259042 - Airframe hours: 3160.9 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Silver Wing Aviation - Registered owner: Frank Schurr - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 31, 2002 - Departed: KVGT, North Las Vegas, NV - Destination: U08, Overton, NV - Airport: U08, Perkins Field Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 35; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review January 25, 2003; seat: right; flight hours: 1,765 total, 365 in this make and model, 1,690 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 29; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 26 total, 6 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: SGU, 48 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 20030622016129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030622016129A), Jun 22, 2003: Cessna 172K, Overton, NV, Substantial damage. (-23) CFI meyer was instructing a student pilot in a simulated forced landing. Aircraft descended 150'-200' AGL when recovery was initiated. Aircraft stalled,… 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.