- Date
- August 16, 1991, 10:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place
- Oak Harbor, WA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- CGFTECessna 172M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 5, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 41513
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's allowing the airspeed to decay below the stall speed. Factors contributing to the accident were the pilot's failure to maintain directional control and the pilot's lack of total recent experience.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The private pilot, who logged only 2.5 hours in the previous 90 days, chose to execute a go-around during an approach to the runway. During the go-around maneuver the pilot allowed the aircraft to turn left and pitch up with the application of power and the airespeed decelerted below the stall speed. The nose up elevator trim applied during the approach was not removed during the go-around maneuver. The aircraft stalled and rotated approximately 180 degrees counterclokwise before impacting the ground. Insufficient altitude was available to enable the pilot to successfully execute a full recovery before ground impact.
Aircraft
- Registration
- CGFTE
- Reported as
- Cessna 172M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17266710
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Centennial Flying School
- Departed
- BLI · Bellingham, WA
- Destination
- WA22 · Elma, WA
- Airport
- S76 · Oak Harbor, runway 25, 3,267 × 25 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 42
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 134 total · 120 in this make and model · 59 as pilot in command · 3 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- -0 °F, dew point -0 °F