# NTSB MIA91LA072: Cessna 170A, N1279D, Fort Myers, FL, January 24, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 24, 1991, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Fort Myers, FL
- Coordinates: 26.560924, -81.870826 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.5609&lon=-81.8708&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 3 minor
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32816
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA91LA072
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32816/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA91LA072

## Probable cause

IN-FLIGHT ENCOUNTER WITH A DOWNDRAFT WHICH CAUSED THE AIRSPEED TO DECREASE BELOW VSO RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL/MUSH.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - downdraft
  - airspeed - reduced
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - object - tree(s)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AT AN ALT OF ABOUT 80 FT WHILE OVER TREES AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY, THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ACFT BEGAN TO SINK & THE LT WING STALLED.  THE ACFT DESCENDED LT WING LOW COLLIDED WITH TREES THEN THE GROUND.  THE PLT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO ENG FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION & THE STALL WARNING DID NOT OPERATE.  HE ALSO STATED THAT THE HIGH SINK RATE WAS DUE TO A DOWNDRAFT.  THE PLT RATED PASSENGER STATED THAT JUST PRIOR TO THE WING STALLING, HE OBSERVED THE AIRSPEED INDICATOR ABRUPTLY FELL FROM 60-50 MPH.  THE STALL SPEED IN THE ACFT CONFIGURATION WAS REPORTEDLY 54 MPH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1279D (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170A
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20125
- Airframe hours: 3932
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300A 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Caine, Alfred
- Registered owner: Caine, Alfred
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 1990, 72 hours before
- Destination: X14, LA BELLE, FL
- Airport: NONE, Tuckers Corner, runway 5, 1,850 × 75 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 233 total, 25 in this make and model, 105 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FMY, 13 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 19910124001029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910124001029A), Jan 24, 1991: Cessna STC170, Fort Myers, FL, Substantial damage. Climbing out near tree tops after departing Private strip. Hit downdraft and stalled into trees.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.