LAX93LA176

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172N · Flagstaff, AZ · April 15, 1993

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
April 15, 1993, 14:52 local (21:52 UTC)
Place
Flagstaff, AZ
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N3443ECessna 172N
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report November 19, 1993
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19930415009389A
Case key
27958

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's poor aircraft handling techniques, his failure to correctly configure the carburetor heat control during the go around, and, his failure to maintain an adequate airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall mush condition. Factors in the accident were the pilot's low total experience and the high density altitude condition.

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.

Loss of control - in flightGo-around (vfr)
Aircraft handling - poorPilot in commandCause
Carburetor heat - improperPilot in commandCause
Weather condition - high density altitudeFactor
Airspeed - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Lack of total experiencePilot in commandFactor
Stall/mush - inadvertentPilot in commandCause
In flight collision with objectDescent - uncontrolled
Object - tree(s)

Analysis

According to air traffic controllers on duty in the tower cab, the aircraft made two attempts to land on runway 21, each time flaring about 10 feet above the runway. The pilot initiated a go around following each aborted landing attempt. On the second go around, the aircraft appeared to be low and slow, and, during a left turn, descended and collided with trees on the airport property. The official airport weather observation was reporting winds from 290 degrees at six knots during the accident time frame, with no unusual meteorological phenomena noted either before or after the accident. In his statement, the pilot reported that gusting cross winds blew him away from the runway during each landing attempt. On the second go around, the pilot said that a downdraft pushed him into the trees after he had drifted left over the woods. The pilot further stated that he left the carburetor heat in the on position during the second go around. The density altitude was calculated to be about 8,700 feet.

Aircraft

Registration
N3443E
Reported as
Cessna 172N
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17271542
Engine
Lycoming O-320-D2J, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Konski Air
Registered owner
Yehiam Konski
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · March 20, 1993
Departed
PGA · Page, AZ
Airport
FLG · Flagstaff Pulliam, runway 21, 6,999 × 150 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
40
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
150 total · 60 in this make and model · 60 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
290° at 6 knots
Visibility
20 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
59 °F, dew point 21 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
FLG, 1 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.