# NTSB LAX89LA107: Cessna 172N, N3388E, Deer Valley, AZ, February 12, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 12, 1989, 14:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place: Deer Valley, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.679367, -112.090065 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6794&lon=-112.0901&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 2, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26336
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89LA107
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26336/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA107

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO RAISE THE WING FLAPS DURING THE ABORTED LANDING, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING THE CLIMBING RIGHT TURN.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aborted landing - performed, pilot in command
  - raising of flaps - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - airspeed - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

A WITNESS SAID THE AIRPLANE WAS 'UNUSUALLY HIGH OVER THE THRESHOLD' WHEN IT SETTLED TO THE RUNWAY FROM 30 FT. THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED AND BECAME AIRBORNE. PRIOR TO THE SECOND LANDING, THE WITNESS HEARD FULL POWER APPLIED. THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED AND THEN FLEW THE LENGTH OF THE RUNWAY AT A LOW ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED. THE WITNESS NOTED THE WING FLAPS WERE IN THE DOWN POSITION DURING THE APPROACH AND GO-AROUND. THE AIRPLANE BEGAN A CLIMBING RIGHT TURN AND THEN 'WENT NOSE DOWN INTO THE GROUND' FROM APPROXIMATELY 50 - 100 FEET. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER COULD NOT RECALL THE EVENTS OF THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT HAS A TOTAL FLIGHT TIME OF 121 HOURS WITH 6 HOURS IN THE LAST 90 DAYS. HE HAS 27 HOURS OF PIC FLIGHT TIME.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3388E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3388E-2002-07-27), registration cancelled 2002-07-27, S/N 17271527, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17271527
- Airframe hours: 4239
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Arndt, Carl
- Registered owner: Arndt, Carl W
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 10, 1989, 39 hours before
- Airport: DVT, Deer Valley, runway 25L, 8,200 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 121 total, 23 in this make and model, 27 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19890212002089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890212002089A), Feb 12, 1989: Cessna 172N, Phoenix, AZ, Substantial damage. Settled to runway, bounced twice using up runway. Began go around. Impacted on turnout nose down.

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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