# NTSB MIA98LA113: Cessna 172M, N9233H, Kingsport, TN, March 31, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 30, 1998, 21:00 local (Mar 31, 1998, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Kingsport, TN - Coordinates: 36.520378, -82.549926 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5204&lon=-82.5499&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 21, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38481 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA113 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38481/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA113 ## Probable cause The dual student's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in a stall mush. Contributing to the accident were the flight instructor's inadequate supervision and the night conditions. ## Analysis The flight was a dual, night VFR cross country flight in preparation for the student's solo cross country. According to the CFI, when they rolled wings level on final approach, the student did not have the runway in sight and was being directed by the CFI. In the process of acquiring a visual on the runway, the flight had gotten low and slow, and the student was making a correction when the wheels collided with an approach light pole. The airplane came to rest inverted, about 300 feet from the runway threshold. ## Factual narrative On March 30, 1998, about 2100 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172M, N9233H, registered to Moerair, Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, collided with runway approach lights for runway 23 at Tri-Cities Regional Airport, Bristol, Tennessee. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage, and the flight instructor, (CFI) and student pilot sustained minor injuries. The flight originated from Greeneville-Green County Municipal Airport, Tennessee, about 20 minutes before the accident. The flight was a dual, night VFR cross country flight in preparation for the student's solo cross country. According to the CFI, when they rolled wings level on final approach, the student did not have the runway in sight and was being directed by the CFI. In the process of acquiring a visual on the runway, the flight had gotten low and slow, and the student was making a correction when the wheels collided with an approach light pole. The airplane came to rest inverted, about 300 feet from the runway threshhold. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - airspeed(vref) - inadequate, dual student (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, dual student (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - object - approach light/navaid ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9233H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9233H-2013-07-03), registration cancelled 2013-07-03, S/N 17266031, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17266031 - Airframe hours: 5968 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Moerair, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 23, 1998, 80 hours before - Departed: GCY, GREENEVILLE, TN - Destination: TRI, BRISTOL, TN - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: TRI, Tri-Cities, runway 23, 7,999 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; private, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 738 total, 395 in this make and model, 629 as pilot in command, 71 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: TRI ## 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 19980331004829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980331004829A), Mar 31, 1998: Cessna 172M, Bristol-Johnson, TN, Substantial damage. In March 30, 1998, about 2100 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172M, N9233H, registered to moerair inc, operating as a 14 CFR part 91 instructional flight,… 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.