# NTSB MIA87LA168: Cessna 172P, N63597, Lake Wales, FL, May 31, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 31, 1987, 15:47 local (19:47 UTC)
- Place: Lake Wales, FL
- Coordinates: 27.900259, -81.580299 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9003&lon=-81.5803&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 10, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31919
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA87LA168
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31919/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87LA168

## 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
  - lowering of flaps - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - elevator - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - raising of flaps - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload
  - landing gear,nose gear - failure,total
- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE PLT SELECTED 20 DEGREES OF FLAPS FOR A SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF. AT APRX 75 FT AGL HE RAISED THEM 10 DEGREES RESULTING IN A NOSE HIGH ALTIUDE. THE ACFT THEN STALLED AND CRASHED UNCONTROLLED IN A NOSE LOW ALTITUDE CAUSING THE NOSE GEAR TO COLLAPSE. THE ACFT THEN NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. ACCORDING TO THE PLT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK, FLAP SETTINGS GREATER THAN 10 DEGREES ARE NOT APPROVED FOR TAKEOFF.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N63597](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N63597-1996-09-19), registration cancelled 1996-09-19, S/N 17275453 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17275453
- Airframe hours: 2611
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Cub Club,Inc.
- Registered owner: Cub Club Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 20, 1987, 68 hours before
- Destination: FMY, FT. MYERS, FL
- Airport: X25, Chalet Suzanne Air Strip, runway 36, 2,450 × 50 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 375 total, 335 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MCO, 33 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 19870531017439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870531017439A), May 31, 1987: Cessna 172P, Lake Wales, FL, Substantial damage. The aircraft stalled on climbout when flaps were retracted. The pilot used a higher than recommended flap setting.

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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