# NTSB MIA92FA053: Cessna 172RG, N9718B, Melbourne, FL, December 28, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 28, 1991, 10:59 local (15:59 UTC)
- Place: Melbourne, FL
- Coordinates: 28.150262, -80.650421 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.1503&lon=-80.6504&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report January 22, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32973
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA92FA053
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32973/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA92FA053

## Probable cause

THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHILE DEMONSTRATING A POWER OFF APPROACH TO THE STUDENT AND HIS IMPROPER RETRACTION OF THE WING FLAPS DURING GO AROUND FROM THE APPROACH RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AND INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT INTO THE GROUND.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr)
  - airspeed(vso) - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - raising of flaps - improper, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO PVT RATED STUDENT AND THE ACFT OPERATOR THE CFI WAS DESIGNATED PILOT IN COMMAND FOR THE INSTRUCTIONAL FLT. THE STUDENT DID NOT HAVE A COMPLEX ACFT CHECKOUT AND COULD NOT BE PILOT IN COMMAND. ACCORDING TO THE CFI AND STUDENT THE STUDENT PERFORMED A POWER OFF APPROACH. ON BASE LEG WHEN IT APPEARED ACFT WAS LOW CFI TOOK CONTROLS TO COMPLETE APPCH. WHEN FINAL WAS OVERSHOT CFI STARTED GO AROUND AND ATTEMPTED TO RAISE FLAPS TO 10 DEGREES. THE ACFT STALLED AND DESCENDED LEFT WING LOW STRIKING THE GROUND. THE ACFT THEN CARTWHEELED. POST CRASH EXAMINATION INDICATED THE FLAPS WERE FULLY RETRACTED AT GROUND IMPACT. THE ACFT'S ENGINE, FLIGHT CONTROLS, FLAP SYSTEM, AND STALL WARNING SYSTEM WERE INSPECTED AND REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PRECRASH FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9718B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9718B-1993-03-31), registration cancelled 1993-03-31, S/N 172RG0988 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172RG
- Registry model: [Cessna 172RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172rg) (registry code 2072438) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172RG0988
- Airframe hours: 3116
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-F1AG 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Alpha Flight, Inc.
- Registered owner: William Alameda, Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 7, 1991, 39 hours before
- Airport: MLB, Melbourne Regional, runway 9, 6,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 500 total, 450 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MLB, 1 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 19911228057539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911228057539A), Dec 28, 1991: Cessna 172RG, Melbourne, FL, Substantial damage. Gave student simulated forced landing. CFI took over on base and stalled turning final. Wing hit. Cartwheeled.

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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