- Date
- January 15, 1999, 17:33 local (Jan 16, 1999, 01:33 UTC)
- Place
- Moses Lake, WA
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N9326BCessna 175
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report June 23, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990115000539A
- Case key
- 45648
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
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Probable cause
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall.
Analysis
The pilot stated that while on final approach to the runway, the aircraft drifted from the center line and he initiated a go-around. During the go-around procedure, the stall warning horn sounded and the aircraft collided with the terrain. The aircraft impacted the terrain approximately 400 feet southeast of the approach end of the runway and slid another 65 feet before coming to rest on the runway. No evidence was found to indicate a mechanical failure or malfunction.
Factual narrative
On January 15, 1999, about 1733 pacific standard time, a Cessna 175, N9326B, operated by the pilot as a 14 CFR 91 personal flight, was substantially damaged when it collided with the ground during a go-around maneuver at the Moses Lake Municipal Airport, Moses Lake, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The private pilot received minor injuries and his passenger sustained serious injuries. There was no fire and the pilot reported that the ELT had actuated. The flight originated from the Moses Lake Airport approximately one hour prior to the accident.
The pilot stated that while on final approach to runway 16, the aircraft drifted to the left of center line and he elected to initiate a go-around. The pilot reported that, "About this time the stall horn went off. The only memory I have after this is seeing the field (ground) coming up and thinking keep it straight, level and nose up." The aircraft collided with the ground approximately 400 feet southeast of the approach end of runway 16, and slid another 65 feet before coming to rest on the runway.
At 1652, the Moses Lake weather was winds from 120 degrees at four knots. Visibility was 10 miles with clear sky's.
An FAA inspector from the Spokane, Washington Flight Standards District Office inspected the aircraft after the accident and reported that there was no evidence found to indicate a mechanical failure or malfunction.
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.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9326B
- Reported as
- Cessna 175
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 55126
- Airframe hours
- 3,120
- Engine
- Continental GO-300-A, 175 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- John H. Bross
- Registered owner
- Jill Ann Dudik Bross
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 15, 1998 · 32 hours before
- Airport
- WA40 · Moses Lake Municipal, runway 16, 1,800 × 50 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 46
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 125 total · 36 in this make and model · 57 as pilot in command · 6 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 100° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MWH, 305 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.