# NTSB MIA03LA056: Cessna 172M, N22593, Leesburg, MS, February 12, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 12, 2003, 09:05 local (15:05 UTC) - Place: Leesburg, MS - Coordinates: 32.438331, -89.763885 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4383&lon=-89.7639&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 13, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56500 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA03LA056 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56500/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56500 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03LA056 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper use of flaps, resulting in the degradation of climb performance and collision with the ground. ## 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 - flaps - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - climb - not attained, pilot in command - aircraft performance,climb capability - deteriorated - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot stated that he had extended the flaps to "three quarters", while taking off, and he had been "milking" the flaps up, but the airplane was "sinking", even though the throttle control was pushed all the way in. He said the engine sounded as if it was developing full power, and continued to do so until impact, as the airplane continued to sink. The pilot said he maneuvered to avoid a crowded trailer park, and impacted the ground in a soft muddy open area, and the airplane incurred damage. The FAA inspector who conducted an examination of the accident airplane said that there were no indications of any preaccident failure or malfunctions to the accident airplane's airframe, flight controls, or engine, and that she found that the airplane's flaps had been set to about 30 degrees for the takeoff. The airplane's flight manual specified that for a normal takeoff the flaps should be "up." ## Factual narrative On February 12, 2003, about 0905, central standard time, a Cessna 172M, N22593, registered to Brandon Air Inc., and operated by a private individual, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed shortly after takeoff from a private strip in Leesburg, Mississippi. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated pilot, received minor injuries, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that he had extended the flaps to "three quarters", while taking off from a private grass strip. He said the airplane was in the initial climb phase, at an altitude of about 200 feet, and he had been "milking" the flaps up, but the airplane was "sinking", even though the throttle control was pushed all the way in. According to the pilot, the engine sounded as if it was developing full power, and continued to do so until impact with the ground, but he further stated that during the takeoff he did not have time to look at the tachometer, and barely managed to make it over the first bank of trees as the airplane continued to sink. The pilot said he maneuvered to avoid a crowded trailer park, and impacted the ground in a soft muddy open area, that had been cleared to construct additional trailers and expand the trailer park, and the airplane incurred damage to its left wing and fuselage during the impact. According to the FAA inspector who conducted an examination of the accident airplane, there were no indications of any preaccident failure or malfunctions to the accident airplane's airframe, flight controls, or engine. The inspector further stated that the examination revealed that the accident airplane's flaps were found to have been set to about 30 degrees for the takeoff. The airplane's flight manual specified that for a normal takeoff the flaps should be "up." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N22593](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N22593-2003-05-07), registration cancelled 2003-05-07, S/N 17264070, built 1974 (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: 17264070 - Airframe hours: 5380 - Engines: Textron Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Brandon Air Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 4, 2002, 50 hours before - Departed: Leesburg, MS - Destination: ACJ, Americus, GA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: Jimmy Thrash's private strip, runway 180, 2,000 × ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 18, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 20,000 total, 150 in this make and model, 15,000 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: JAN, 20 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 20030212001599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030212001599A), Feb 12, 2003: Cessna 172M, Leesburg, MS, Substantial damage. (-23) Airman took off from grass strip. Said had full power but aircraft refused to climb. Airman said had extended flaps 3/4 for takeoff. After takeoff… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 24, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56500. 764 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 290 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384458&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Reports from Federal Agencies: FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40178770&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies%3A%20FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Reports from Federal Agencies: FAA Designated Maintenance Inspector's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 265 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40178771&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies%3A%20FAA%20Designated%20Maintenance%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Miscellaneous: Excerpt of pertinent portions of the airplane's checklist (item 4, .PDF, 157 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40178772&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%3A%20Excerpt%20of%20pertinent%20portions%20of%20the%20airplane%27s%20checklist-Master.PDF 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.