# NTSB NYC91FA069: Cessna 172P, N62746, Augusta, ME, February 2, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 2, 1991, 16:20 local (21:20 UTC)
- Place: Augusta, ME
- Location: 44.3106° N, 69.7795° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Augusta, ME, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3106&lon=-69.7795&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 27, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36780
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC91FA069
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36780/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC91FA069

## Probable cause

THE PILOT ROTATED THE AIRPLANE AT AN IMPROPER SPEED, THEN ALLOWED THE CLIMB ANGLE TO BECOME TOO STEEP, CAUSING AN INADVERTENT STALL AT TOO LOW AN ALTITUDE TO ALLOW RECOVERY.  CONTRIBUTING FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE; THE PILOT FAILED TO USE ALL OF THE AVAILABLE RUNWAY; AND THE PILOT'S LOW TIME AND TOTAL LACK OF FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - all available runway - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - self-induced pressure, pilot in command
  - rotation - premature, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed(vs) - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s) (cause)

## Analysis

WITNESSES SAW THE AIRPLANE LAND AND THEN SLOW TO TAXI SPEED.  AT AN INTERSECTING RUNWAY WITH APPROXIMATELY 400 FEET OF RUNWAY REMAINING THE PILOT ELECTED TO TAKEOFF.  WITNESS SAW THE AIRPLANE TAKEOFF AT A SLOW SPEED, AND CLIMB AT A STEEP ANGLE.  A WITNESS SAID, '... THE PLANE IMMEDIATELY NOSED OVER AND FELL TO THE GROUND...'  AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT HAD A TOTAL OF 130 FLIGHT HOURS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N62746](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N62746-1991-06-13), registration cancelled 1991-06-13, S/N 17275332 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17275332
- Airframe hours: 1854
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Maine Wing, doing business as Cap
- Registered owner: Civil Air Patrol Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 31, 1989
- Departed: PWM, PORTLAND, ME
- Airport: AUG, Augusta State, runway 26, 2,703 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 130.1 total, 12.8 in this make and model, 71.8 as pilot in command, 5.9 in the last 90 days, 5.9 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 18 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: AUG

## 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 19910202001489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910202001489A), Feb 2, 1991: Cessna 172P, Augusta, ME, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Landing in gusty crosswind. Began belated go around,struck trees,wires and building. Airliner was landing on runway

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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