- Date
- March 21, 1989, 17:31 local (22:31 UTC)
- Place
- Melbourne, FL
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N1480FCessna 172H
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 31, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890321004299A
- Case key
- 32282
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's selection of an inappropriate runway for takeoff and his inadequate compensation for crosswind conditions.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The private pilot attempted a takeoff on a runway with a 90 degree 18 knot crosswind and lost control of the aircraft after it became airborne. Another runway, longer & more closely aligned with the wind, was available but not requested. Witnesses said that after takeoff, the airplane climbed 75 to 100 ft AGL, then rolled left. About 90 degrees of heading change was observed before the airplane dove to the ground. Witnesses said the engine sounded like it was operating at high RPM. No evidence of flight control malfunction was found.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1480F
- Reported as
- Cessna 172H
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17254975
- Engine
- Continental O-300-D, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Ronald D. Schuhs
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 5, 1988
- Departed
- MLB · Melbourne, FL
- Destination
- COI · Merritt Island, FL
- Airport
- MLB · Melbourne Regional, runway 4, 3,002 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 23
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 166 total · 20 in this make and model · 166 as pilot in command · 6 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 130° at 18 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MLB
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N1480F · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.