# NTSB LAX89FA113: Cessna 172F, N8492U, Safford, AZ, February 18, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 18, 1989, 13:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place: Safford, AZ
- Coordinates: 32.810005, -109.360527 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8100&lon=-109.3605&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26214
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89FA113
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26214/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89FA113

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER AIRSPEED WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH RESULTING IN AN AERODYNAMIC STALL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S DELAYED USE OF WING FLAPS.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - lowering of flaps - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - open field (contributing factor)

## Analysis

A CESSNA 172F COLLIDED WITH LEVEL TERRAIN AFTER MAKING SEVERAL LOW PASSES. THE ACFT APPEARED TO BE MAKING CLOSED TRAFFIC PATTERNS TO A FIELD LOCATED ADJACENT TO A RESIDENTIAL AREA. THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED BY SEVERAL WITNESSES FLYING LOW OVER THEIR RESIDENCES. ONE HOMEOWNER IDENTIFIED THE ACFT AS HIS BROTHERS. ACCORDING TO FAMILY MEMBERS, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED MAKING SEVERAL LOW PASSES ALIGNED WITH AN OPEN FIELD. THEY ESTIMATED THE ALTITUDE TO BE ABOUT 100 FT AGL. THE SOUND OF SEVERAL ENGINE POWER REDUCTIONS WAS NOTED, FOLLOWED BY ENGINE ACCELERATION. THE ACFT WAS ALIGNED FOR ANOTHER APPROACH WHEN THE 'ENGINE NOISE WAS CUT.' THE ACFT WAS THEN OBSERVED PITCHING DOWNWARD ABRUPTLY. THE ACFT STRUCK THE GROUND IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. A FIRE ERUPTED AND THE AIRPLANE WAS CONSUMED IN FLAMES. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE DID NOT REVEAL ANY EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. THE ACFT WING FLAPS WERE DETERMINED TO BE IN A 5 DEGREE TRANSITORY POSITION AT THE TIME OF IMPACT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8492U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8492U-1990-06-06), registration cancelled 1990-06-06, S/N 17252392 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172F
- Registry model: [Cessna 172F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (registry code 2072414) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17252392
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Copper Penny Office Supply
- Registered owner: Joseph Olsen
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 3, 1988
- Departed: P33, WILLCOX, AZ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 200 total, 180 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19890218002189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890218002189A), Feb 18, 1989: Cessna 172F, Safford, AZ, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Buzzed relatives home several times. Stalled and impacted near vertical in open 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.

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