SEA99LA030

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 175 · Moses Lake, WA · January 16, 1999

Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
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.

Loss of control - in flightGo-around (vfr)
Airspeed - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Stall - inadvertentPilot in commandFactor

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.