# NTSB MIA87LA057: Cessna 172N, N737ZB, Sarasota, FL, December 23, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 23, 1986, 18:15 local (23:15 UTC)
- Place: Sarasota, FL
- Location: 27.3383° N, 82.5437° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sarasota, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.3383&lon=-82.5437&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31840
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA87LA057
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31840/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87LA057

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, approach
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

TWO LDG ATTEMPTS WERE MADE AT THE PHYSICIAN PLT'S PRIVATE ARPT BUT WERE ABANDONED DUE TO STRONG SHIFTING VIOLENT WINDS. THE PLT LATER STATED THE LAST THING HE REMEMBERED WAS SEEING 500 FT ON THE ALTIMETER & TELLING HIMSELF 'TO GET UP & OUT OF THERE' THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A TREE & THE PLT FOUND HIMSELF SITTING ON THE GRND OUTSIDE THE ACFT. THE WX FORECAST CALLED FOR THNDRSTRMS TO BE IN THE AREA AT THE TIME OF THE AFTER SUNSET ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N737ZB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N737ZB-1988-11-22), registration cancelled 1988-11-22, S/N 17269792 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17269792
- Airframe hours: 2442
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Betty B. Hood
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 28, 1986
- Departed: SPG, ST PETERSBURG, FL
- Destination: 61X, SARASOTA, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,805 total, 2,366 in this make and model, 70 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 200° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,100 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SRQ, 10 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 19861223081839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861223081839A), Dec 23, 1986: Cessna 172N, Sarasota, FL, Destroyed. The aircraft struck trees after go around ingusty winds. Pilot attempted VFR flight in an area of thunderstorms.

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.