# NTSB LAX96LA345: Cessna 172F, N5536T, Ehrenberg, AZ, September 19, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 19, 1996, 07:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Ehrenberg, AZ - Coordinates: 33.519657, -114.520019 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5197&lon=-114.5200&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 16, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29569 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA345 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29569/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA345 ## Probable cause The pilot's attempt to perform a low altitude evasive maneuver with inadequate airspeed resulting in a stall/mush. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr) - go-around - intentional, pilot in command - evasive maneuver - attempted, pilot in command - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - altitude - low, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - crop ## Analysis The pilot intended to land on a farm road, saw pot holes in the road, and decided to initiate a go-around. He estimated that the aircraft climbed to 50 or 60 feet agl between 50 to 55 mph when he started a right turn to avoid an agricultural aircraft about 1/2 mile ahead. The aircraft stalled in the turn and settled into a cotton field. The pilot said that the wind was calm and there were no mechanical problems with the aircraft. ## Factual narrative On September 19, 1996, at 0730 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 172F, N5536T, collided with an agricultural field while the private pilot was attempting a go-around following an aborted landing on a farm road near Ehrenberg, Arizona. The aircraft was substantially damaged; however, the pilot and one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight which departed from Casa Grande, Arizona, about 0600, and was destined for Blythe, California. The pilot told the NTSB investigator that he was considering landing on the farm, which was his ultimate destination, rather than landing at Blythe and renting a car. The farm was in level terrain along the Colorado River and the paved road, oriented east-west, was about 1/4 mile long. As the aircraft approached the road from the west and descended to about 3 feet, the pilot saw pot holes in the road and decided to initiate a go-around. The pilot estimated that the aircraft had climbed to 50 to 60 feet agl at 50 to 55 mph when he started a right turn to avoid an agricultural aircraft about 1/2 mile ahead. The aircraft stalled in the turn and settled into a field of tall cotton. The pilot said that the wind was calm and there were no mechanical problems with the aircraft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5536T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5536T-2013-01-30), registration cancelled 2013-01-30, S/N 17251436, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172F - Registry model: [Cessna 172E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172e) (registry code 2072412) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17251436 - Airframe hours: 2721 - Engines: Continental O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Desert Aero Center - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 14, 1996, 10 hours before - Departed: CGZ, CASA GRANDE, AZ - Destination: BLH, BLYTHE, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 104 total, 77 in this make and model, 63 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F ## 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 19960919032979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960919032979A), Sep 19, 1996: Cessna 172F, Ehrenberg, AZ, Substantial damage. Aborted landing on farm road due pot holes. During climbout banked to avoid a ag aircraft. Stalled into cotton. ## Other investigations on N5536T (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 LAX80FA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FA072), Apr 1, 1980: Cessna 172 (N5536T), Casa Grande, AZ, 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.