# NTSB MIA88FA142: Cessna 172N, N6283F, Vero Beach, FL, April 10, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 10, 1988, 15:18 local (19:18 UTC)
- Place: Vero Beach, FL
- Coordinates: 27.680795, -80.710159 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.6808&lon=-80.7102&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 13, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32015
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA88FA142
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32015/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA88FA142

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - raising of flaps - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - abort - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, landing - aborted
  - object - tree(s)
  - go-around - attempted, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - shoulder harness - not used, pilot passenger

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO TOUCH DOWN ON RWY 36 WITH FULL FLAPS ON THE GRASS STRIP BORDERED ON BOTH SIDES BY CITRUS GROVES, SURFACE WINDS IN THE AREA WERE 120 DEGS AT 11 KTS. THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT OFF THE RWY TOWARD THE GROVE. THE PLT WITNESSES STATED THAT FULL POWER WAS APPLIED & WITH FULL FLAPS STILL EXTENDED, A GO ARND WAS ATTEMPTED WITH THE NOSE IN AN EXTREME NOSE HI ATTITUDE. THE LT WING STRUCK THE TREES & THE ACFT PASSED OVER THE 225 FT WIDE GROVE, A CANAL, ROAD, & POWERLINES BEFORE CRASHING INTO A 40 FT HIGH PINE TREE WITH FULL FLAPS STILL EXTENDED & STILL IN AN EXTREME NOSE HI ATTITUDE. THE PLT OPERATING HANDBOOK FOR THE ACFT STATES 'FLAP DEFLECTIONS GREATER THAN 10 DEGREES ARE NOT RECOMMENDED FOR TAKE OFF.' THE PILOT LATER SAID HE HAD NO RECOLLECTION OF THE FLT OR ACCIDENT. THE PLT-RATED PAX SEATED IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT SUSTAINED SEVERE HEAD INJURIES AND WAS NOT WEARING HIS SHOULDER HARNESS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6283F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6283F-1994-08-26), registration cancelled 1994-08-26, S/N 17273179 (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: 17273179
- Airframe hours: 1137
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Citrus Grove Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Indian River Flying Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 18, 1988, 57 hours before
- Departed: OCF, OCALA, FL
- Destination: X52, VERO BEACH, FL
- Airport: X52, New Hibiscus, runway 36, 3,300 × 160 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 109 total, 27 in this make and model, 60 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: VRB, 6 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 19880410008139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880410008139A), Apr 10, 1988: Cessna 172N, Vero Beach, FL, Destroyed. Veered on quartering downwind landing. Began go around. Drifted, clipped tree tops and hit a tree. Flaps full down.

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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