# NTSB MIA89FA220: Cessna 172P, N99901, Pass-A-Grille, FL, August 13, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 13, 1989, 13:55 local (17:55 UTC)
- Place: Pass-A-Grille, FL
- Coordinates: 27.740676, -82.74929 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7407&lon=-82.7493&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 5, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32307
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA89FA220
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32307/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89FA220

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO RECOVER FROM A STALL/SPIN.  EXCESSIVE GROSS WEIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT AND LACK OF AVAILABLE ALTITUDE FOR SPIN RECOVERY WERE PROBABLE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - maneuver - initiated, pilot in command
  - stall/spin - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - water

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS BEING USED TO DEMONSTRATE FLT CHARACTERISTICS TO CAP CADETS. DRG AN OFF-SHORE FLT OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO, THE ACFT ENTERED A DESCENT & CRASHED APRX 3 MI FROM LAND. A WITNESS, WHO SAW THE ACFT JUST BEFORE IMPACT, RPRTD THAT IT WAS SPINNING IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE ACFT SANK ALMOST IMMEDIATELY IN 28 FT OF WATER. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT WAS FOUND. A CHECK OF THE WEIGHT & BALANCE INFO SHOWED THE ACFT HAD BEEN LOADED APRX 114 LBS OVER ITS MAX WT LIMIT. RADAR DATA SHOWED THAT JUST BEFORE THE LOSS OF RADAR CONTACT, THE PLT HAD MADE TWO RAPID 180 DEG TURNS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N99901](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N99901-1990-09-25), registration cancelled 1990-09-25, S/N 17276525 (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: 17276525
- Airframe hours: 1267
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Civil Air Patrol
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 8, 1989
- Departed: SPG, ST PETERSBURG, FL
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,458 total, 245 in this make and model, 3,142 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 14 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SPG, 15 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 19890813028809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890813028809A), Aug 13, 1989: Cessna 172P, Pass A Grille, FL, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Observed spinning and impact gulf waters offshore. Aircraft sank immediately.

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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