# NTSB MIA89GA155: Cessna 172P, N65777, Davie, FL, May 26, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: May 25, 1989, 21:33 local (May 26, 1989, 01:33 UTC)
- Place: Davie, FL
- Location: 26.0629° N, 80.2331° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Davie, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.0629&lon=-80.2331&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 5, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32315
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA89GA155
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32315/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89GA155

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRPLANE CONTROL WHILE ENTERING AN AREA OF TURBULENCE CAUSED BY WILD FIRES ON THE GROUND BENEATH HIS FLIGHT PATH.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, descent - normal
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - unsafe/hazardous condition - encountered, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spiral - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE POLICE OFFICER/PILOT FLYING THE PUBLIC USE AIRPLANE ON A NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY INSTRUMENT FLIGHT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO TURN, AND DESCEND IN AN AREA OF TURBULENCE CAUSED BY WILD FIRES ON THE GROUND. THE PILOT'S LAST TRANSMISSION WAS THAT HE WAS IN A 'DEADMANS SPIN'. COMPARISON OF THE PILOTS LOGBOOK WITH AN AIRPLANE FLIGHT LOG REVEALED DESCREPANCIES. THEREFORE, THE EXACT AMOUNT OF FLIGHT EXPERIENCE WHICH THE PILOT HAD COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N65777](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N65777-1991-04-30), registration cancelled 1991-04-30, S/N 17275880 (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: 172-75880
- Airframe hours: 1720
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91
- Operator: City Of Fort Lauderdale
- Registered owner: City Of Ft. Lauderdale
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 7, 1989, 39 hours before
- Departed: TLH, TALLAHASSEE, FL
- Destination: FXE, FORT LAUDERDALE, FL
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 591 total, 404 in this make and model, 48 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FXE, 11 nm away

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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