# NTSB MIA89LA199: Cessna 172, N3905L, Forest, MS, July 13, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 13, 1989, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Forest, MS
- Coordinates: 32.349651, -89.470924 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3497&lon=-89.4709&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 9, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32462
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA89LA199
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32462/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89LA199

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT AND PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER FROM WATER IN THE FUEL.  CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE:  UNEVEN RUNWAY, PILOT'S IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, A GUSTY CROSSWIND CONDITION, AND TREES.

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, landing
  - touch-and-go - initiated
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, landing - aborted
  - fluid,fuel - water (cause)
- In flight collision with object, landing - aborted
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT STATED HE WAS MAKING A TOUCH-&-GO LNDG, WHEN THE ACFT HIT A ROUGH PLACE ON THE RWY & WAS 'CATAPULTED' BACK INTO THE AIR. HE STATED THAT AT THAT TIME, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED A 'STRONG GUSTING X-WIND' THAT CAUSED HIM TO LOSE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. HE APPLIED FULL THROTTLE, BUT BELIEVED THE ENG WAS NOT DEVELOPING FULL POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT HIT A TREE & CRASHED. AN EXAM OF THE CARBURETOR REVEALED A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF WATER. APRX 37 MI EAST AT JACKSON, MS, THE WIND WAS FROM 240 DEG AT 7 KTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3905L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3905L-2013-07-19), registration cancelled 2013-07-19, S/N 17254074, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172g) (registry code 2072420) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17254074
- Airframe hours: 5749
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Sawyer, James C.
- Registered owner: Sawyer, James C
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1989, 7 hours before
- Departed: 2M4
- Airport: 2M4, Forest Muni, runway 16, 3,600 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,624 total, 680 in this make and model, 1,560 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,800 ft overcast
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: JAN, 37 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 19890713022439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890713022439A), Jul 13, 1989: Cessna 172G, Forest, MS, Substantial damage. Climbed out nose high on touch and go. Stalled and crashed. Pilot blamed weak power. Water found in fuel system.

## Other investigations on N3905L (1)

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.

- [NTSB DEN67D0130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN67D0130), Oct 13, 1966: Cessna 172 (N3905L), Denver, CO, substantial damage

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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