# NTSB MIA90GA088: Cessna 172P, N9899L, Tampa, FL, March 12, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: March 12, 1990, 13:05 local (18:05 UTC)
- Place: Tampa, FL
- Coordinates: 28.049127, -82.360298 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.0491&lon=-82.3603&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report October 2, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32570
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA90GA088
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32570/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA90GA088

## Probable cause

PILOTS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED (VS), WHICH RESULTED IN AN INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL (STALL/SPIN), AND IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - aircraft handling - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of recent experience, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT OF A CIVIL AIR PATROL CESSNA 172P AIRPLANE, DEPARTED RUNWAY 36 AFTER CONDUCTING A TOUCH AND GO LANDING, ON A PROFICIENCY FLIGHT, FROM VANDENBERG AIRPORT, TAMPA, FLORIDA. NO FLIGHT PLLAN WAS FILED, AND VFR FLIGHT CONDITIONS PREVAILED. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE BETWEEN 200 TO 500 FEET AGL ON A LEFT CROSSWIND TO DOWNWIND TURN, WITH A 30 TO 35 DEGREE NOSE UP ATTITUDE, AND A 45 TO 90 DEGREE ANGLE OF BANK. THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE PITCHED DOWN 90 DEGREES, AND THE AIRPLANE SPUN 3/4 OF A TURN TO THE LEFT, BEFORE COLLIDING WITH THE TERRAIN, AND A PORTABLE SIGN. THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED. THE PRIVATE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9899L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9899L-1992-02-24), registration cancelled 1992-02-24, S/N 17276646 (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: 17276646
- Airframe hours: 1307
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91
- Registered owner: Civil Air Patrol
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 23, 1990, 13 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 237 total, 177 in this make and model, 111 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TPA, 6 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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