- Date
- January 23, 1993, 17:00 local (Jan 24, 1993, 00:00 UTC)
- Place
- Sedona, AZ
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N737EACessna 172N
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 25, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930123000789A
- Case key
- 27911
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 pilots inadequate compensation for the existing wind conditions and his delay in executing a go around. A factor in the accident was the pilot's lack of total experience.
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 pilot said he selected a straight in approach to runway 3 in winds reported from 030 degrees at 20 knots with gusts to 25 knots. During the approach the pilot said that a 'downdraft became apparent.' The pilot said he continued the approach and 'power was added until the point of dropping below the glide slope when full power was applied and go around procedures were immediately executed.' The pilot noted that he turned in an attempt to clear a ridge, but the aircraft continued to sink and collided with the ridge about 50 yards southeast of the runway. The airport is in a valley and was constructed by grading off the top of a hill or ridge. The terrain drops away from the runway on all sides.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N737EA
- Reported as
- Cessna 172N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17269351
- Airframe hours
- 3,725
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-H2AD, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Action Aviation
- Registered owner
- Earnest L. Coleman
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · November 11, 1992 · 87 hours before
- Departed
- GEU · Glendale, AZ
- Airport
- SEZ · Sedona, runway 3, 5,131 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 24
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 106 total · 17 in this make and model · 106 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 30° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 39 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.