# NTSB SEA07CA074: Cessna 172N, N4663D, Phoenix, AZ, March 9, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 9, 2007, 15:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: Phoenix, AZ - Coordinates: 33.680259, -112.089027 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6803&lon=-112.0890&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report May 29, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 65399 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07CA074 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65399/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07CA074 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and uncontrolled descent into terrain during landing. A contributing factor was the pilot's distracted attention due to the inaccurate flap indicator. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flight control,flap - false indication (contributing factor) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - Hard landing, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot was landing at his destination at the end of a cross-country flight. While turning onto final, the airplane was higher than normal and he extended the flaps to 30 degrees. The airplane was not descending normally and he looked at the flap indicator, which showed 20 degrees, although the selector arm was at 30 degrees. The pilot then moved the selector further down, attempting to obtain 30 degrees of flaps. The airplane rapidly slowed, the stall warning horn sounded, and the airplane veered sharply to the left. The pilot applied full throttle, retracted the flaps, and then the airplane impacted the ground. According to the aircraft recovery personnel, when the flaps were selected, the appropriate flap extension would occur. However, the indicator read 10 degrees off. ## Factual narrative The pilot was landing at his destination at the end of a cross-country flight. While turning onto final, the airplane was higher than normal and he extended the flaps to 30 degrees. The airplane was not descending normally and he looked at the flap indicator, which showed 20 degrees, although the selector arm was at 30 degrees. The pilot then moved the selector further down, attempting to obtain 30 degrees of flaps. The airplane rapidly slowed, the stall warning horn sounded, and the airplane veered sharply to the left. The pilot applied full throttle, retracted the flaps, and then the airplane impacted the ground. According to the aircraft recovery personnel, when the flaps were selected, the appropriate flap extension would occur. However, the indicator read 10 degrees off. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4663D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4663D-2013-08-05), registration cancelled 2013-08-05, S/N 17272326, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17272326 - Engines: Textron Lycoming O-320-H2AD reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Westwind School of Aeronautics - Registered owner: Westwind Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: TUC, Tucson, AZ - Destination: DVT, PHX Deer Valley, AZ - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: DVT, PHX Deer Valley AP, runway 25L, 8,208 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1; flight hours: 144 total, 7 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 8 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F - Observed at: DVT ## 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 20070309003819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070309003819A), Mar 9, 2007: Cessna 172N, Phoenix, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) On 03/09/2007 the pilot [privacy data omitted] departed tus on a VFR cross country flight back to dvt in Cessna N4663D, a 172 with his wife on board. The… 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.