# NTSB LAX91LA050: Cessna 172M, N12943, Big Bear City, CA, December 4, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 4, 1990, 15:24 local (23:24 UTC)
- Place: Big Bear City, CA
- Coordinates: 34.259849, -116.840545 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2598&lon=-116.8405&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27073
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91LA050
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27073/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA050

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING TAKEOFF AND HIS INCORRECT USE OF FULL FLAPS. FACTORS RELATED TO THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE CONDITION AND TO THE PILOT'S ABRUPT AIRPLANE HANDLING TECHNIQUES.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - lowering of flaps - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
  - procedures/directives - improper use of, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lift-off - premature, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - runway
- Nose over, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE CERTIFICATED AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT RECEIVED A CHECKOUT FROM THE FIXED BASE OPERATOR IN THE MORNING OF THE ACCIDENT FLT. THE RT FRONT SEAT NONCERTIFICATED STUDENT PLT REPTD THAT AFTER THE CHECKOUT WHEN THE PIC DEPT CABLE ARPT HE NEARLY STALLED THE AIRPLANE BECAUSE HE USED FULL FLAPS AND ROTATED ABRUPTLY. THE PIC WAS ABLE TO ARREST THE IMMINENT STALL AND THEN PROCEEDED TO BIG BEAR, A 6,750 FT HIGH ALT ARPT. WHEN THE FLT DEPT BIG BEAR THE PIC DID NOT LEAN THE MIXTURE AND AGAIN USED FULL FLAPS FOR TAKEOFF. THE PIC ROTATED THE AIRPLANE PREMATURELY BY ABRUPTLY PULLING THE CONTROL WHEEL ALL THE WAY BACK. THE AIRPLANE GAINED SOME ALTITUDE, BECAME UNSTABLE AND STALLED. DURING THE STALL THE PIC FAILED TO LOWER THE NOSE AND IMMEDIATELY RETRACTED THE FLAPS. THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED THE RWY AND NOSED OVER. THE PILOT'S USAGE OF FLAPS WAS CONTRARY TO PUBLISHED INSTRUCTIONS IN THE CESSNA OWNER'S MANUAL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N12943](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N12943-2002-12-03), registration cancelled 2002-12-03, S/N 17262389, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17262389
- Airframe hours: 6591
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: Unknown
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Cable Air
- Registered owner: Robert Cable
- Last inspection: Annual, November 19, 1990, 24 hours before
- Destination: CCB, UPLAND, CA
- Airport: L35, Big Bear City, runway 7, 5,850 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 2,300 total, 80 in this make and model, 990 as pilot in command, 184 in the last 90 days, 49 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: VCV, 15 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 19901204052779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901204052779A), Dec 4, 1990: Cessna 172M, Big Bear, CA, Substantial damage. High altitude takeoff,rich mixture and full flaps. Rotated nose high,stalled impacted runway. Nosed over.

## Other investigations on N12943 (1)

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.

- [NTSB LAX88LA081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88LA081), Dec 29, 1987: Cessna 172M (N12943), Banning, CA, substantial damage

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.