# NTSB MIA94LA074: Cessna 172K, N79401, Culebra, PR, February 16, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 15, 1994, 22:40 local (Feb 16, 1994, 02:40 UTC) - Place: Culebra, PR - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 18, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37495 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA94LA074 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37495/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94LA074 ## Probable cause THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND(CFI) TO INITIATE A GO-AROUND AFTER ENCOUNTERING SEVERE TURBULENCE DURING LANDING FLARE AND HIS DECISION TO RAISE THE FLAPS AND REDUCE ENGINE POWER TO IDLE AFTER DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST RESULTING IN THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDING WITH A HOUSE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - unfavorable wind - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - go-around - not performed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - raising of flaps - premature, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - throttle/power control - reduced, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis WHILE PERFORMING A DOWNWIND LANDING INTO RISING TERRAIN AT NIGHT THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND (CFI) WAS FLYING THE AIRCRAFT. AS HE FLARED FOR LANDING THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED SEVERE TURBULENCE. CONTROL WAS REGAINED AND ANOTHER LANDING FLARE WAS INITIATED. THE AIRCRAFT AGAIN ENCOUNTERED SEVERE TURBULENCE AND DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST. THE AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE LEFT OVER BUILDINGS AND ELECTRICAL WIRES AND CRASHED INTO A HOUSE. AS THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OUT OF CONTROL THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND RAISED THE FLAPS AND REDUCED THE THROTTLE TO THE IDLE POSITION. ## Factual narrative On February 15, 1994, at 2240 Atlantic standard time, a Cessna 172K, N79401, registered to Sugarbush Air Services, Inc., crashed into a house near the Culebra Airport, Culebra, Puerto Rico, while on a 14 CFR Part 91, instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was destroyed and the commercial- rated pilot flight instructor received minor injuries. The dual student received serious injuries. The flight originated at Culebra, Puerto Rico, on February 15, 1994, at 2030. The flight instructor stated that he was flying the aircraft at the time of the accident. Enroute from Isla Grande Airport, where they had performed takeoffs and landings, he obtained the current San Juan weather and the St. Thomas weather. The winds were reported to be easterly at 10 knots. He elected to perform a downwind landing on runway 31, due to rising terrain northwest of the airport. As they flared for landing they encountered "two successive severe blasts" from the right. They regained control and continued the landing flare. They again encountered a "blast" of air from the right. The aircraft was lifted 60 to 80 feet into the air and moved to the left over buildings, wires, and across a road where it collided with a house. As the aircraft flew out of control he raised the flaps and moved the throttle to the idle position. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N79401](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N79401-2013-05-09), registration cancelled 2013-05-09, S/N 17258052, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172K - Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17258052 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Macone, John C. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 20, 1994, 42 hours before - Departed: SJU, SAN JUAN, PR - Airport: TJCP, Culebra, runway 31, 2,600 × 35 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 13,318 total, 2,600 in this make and model, 10,222 as pilot in command, 67 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 60° at 12 knots - Visibility: 13 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SJU, 50 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 19940215002369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940215002369A), Feb 15, 1994: Cessna 172K, Culebra, Puerto Rico, Destroyed. During final and flare for landing severe crosswind gusts. At flare blown upwards and off runway. Struck residence. 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.