- Date
- March 16, 1991, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place
- Buckeye, AZ
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N6439Cessna 172RG
- Weather
- Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 27, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 26988
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot of the airplane exceeding the certificated never exceed velocity. The overloading of the wing attachment fittings while maneuvering was a factor in the accident.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The two pilots returned to the area where they had previously obtained their pilot training and rented the Cessna 172RG to revisit the training areas. The airplane's wreckage was found in a semi-remote area, strewn over a half mile. Examination of the wrecakage disclosed the left wing's wing-to-fuselage attach fitting separated in an upward direction. The fracture surfaces displayed positive overload characteristics. The upper cabin section and right wing broke up after being struck by the left wing during the inflight breakup. Weather studies revealed that visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The airplane is not certificated for aerobatic flight.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6439
- Reported as
- Cessna 172RG
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 172RG0700
- Airframe hours
- 3,157
- Engine
- Lycoming O360F1A6, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- California Aviation, doing business as Glendale Air Center
- Registered owner
- Atlan, Georges
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · October 26, 1990 · 95 hours before
- Departed
- GEU · Glendale, AZ
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 24
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,120 total · 1 in this make and model · 3 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Day
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Observed at
- BXK, 25 nm away