# NTSB NYC87FA120: Cessna 172P, N55309, Berwick, ME, April 11, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 11, 1987, 19:10 local (23:10 UTC)
- Place: Berwick, ME
- Location: 43.2700° N, 70.8624° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Berwick, ME, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2700&lon=-70.8624&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 11, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30492
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC87FA120
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30492/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87FA120

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - stall/spin - not understood, passenger (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED DOING STALLS. A WITNESS SAID THAT PRIOR TO THE CRASH HE SAW THE NOSE LOWER AND THE RIGHT WING DROP. THE AIRCRAFT THEN ENTERED INTO A SPIRAL. IT WAS OBSERVED DESCENDING INTO TREES IN A SPIRAL. THE PLT WAS FOUND IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. THE LEFT PILOT SEAT WAS OCCUPIED BY A PASSENGER WITH NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE AS A PILOT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N55309](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N55309-2015-02-19), registration cancelled 2015-02-19, S/N 172S11531 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17275156
- Airframe hours: 1671
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: David T.Allen, doing business as Allen'S Flying Service
- Registered owner: Ronald L Leclerc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 6, 1987
- Departed: 6B1, ROCHESTER, NH

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 20; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 355 total, 109 in this make and model, 200 as pilot in command, 79 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19870411081339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870411081339A), Apr 11, 1987: Cessna 172P, Berwick, ME, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Performing stalls at low altitude. Entered into a spin and crashed into trees at the rear of house.

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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