# NTSB MIA87FA188: Cessna 172I, N8446L, Ellisville, MS, June 20, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 20, 1987, 11:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place: Ellisville, MS
- Coordinates: 31.590967, -89.200088 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.5910&lon=-89.2001&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report July 5, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31767
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA87FA188
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31767/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87FA188

## 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
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - lowering of flaps - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - seat belt - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aborted takeoff - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft handling - uncontrolled
  - remedial action - attempted, passenger
- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - fuselage,seat - loose
  - maintenance,installation - improper

## Analysis

BFR THE FLT, THE ARPT OWNER ADZD THE PLT NOT TO FLY, SINCE HE (THE PLT) APPEARED TO BE INTOXICATED. THE PLT 'SAID OK & LEFT,' BUT RETURNED APRX 1 HR LATER. A WITNESS RPRTD THE PLT ATMTD TO TAKEOFF WITH FULL FLAPS. DRG THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THEACFT DRIFTED OFF THE RWY, HIT SOME PLASTIC MARKERS, THEN REENTERED THE RWY & CONTD TAKING OFF. ACCORDING TO 2 WITNESSES,THE PLANE WAS IN A NOSE HI ATTITUDE WITH LOW SPEED AFTER LIFT-OFF & CONTD FLYING JUST ABOVE THE GROUND. SUBSEQUENTLY, ITENTERED A LEFT BANK & CRASHED INTO TREES NEAR THE END OF THE RWY. AFTER THE ACDNT, THE FLAPS WERE FND FULLY EXTDD; THE PLT'S SEAT BELT WASN'T FASTENED & HE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE RGT FNT (PAX'S) SEAT WAS FND OFF THE SEAT TRACK; THE FNTSEAT STOPS FOR THAT SEAT HAD NOT BEEN INSTALLED. NO OTHER MECHANICAL PRBLM WAS FND. THE PLT STATED THAT HIS SEAT SLIPPEDBACKWARD ON TAKEOFF & THE PAX GRABBED THE CTL WHEEL & PULLED BACK, CAUSING THE ACFT TO STALL. POH RCMDD A MAX OF 10 DEG FLAPS FOR TAKEOFF. A BLOOD SAMPLE TAKEN JUST AFTER THE ACDNT SHOWED THE PLT HAD AN ALCOHOL LVL OF 183 MG/DL (0.183%).

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8446L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8446L-2014-11-20), registration cancelled 2014-11-20, S/N 17256646, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172I
- Registry model: [Cessna 172I](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172i) (registry code 2072426) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17256646
- Airframe hours: 3320
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: David L.Cutchens
- Registered owner: Maudie Faye Cutchens
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 31, 1986, 10 hours before
- Airport: Purvis, runway 18, 2,100 ×  ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 272 total, 140 in this make and model, 220 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,300 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MEI, 50 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 19870620076669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870620076669A), Jun 20, 1987: Cessna 172I, Ellisville, MS, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. On takeoff with full flaps collided with trees. Lost control and caused a stall. Pilot appeared to be drunk.

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.

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