- Date
- March 17, 2013, 11:50 local (18:50 UTC)
- Place
- Gila Bend, AZ
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N5802JCessna 172N
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR go-around: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 18, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- FAA Scottsdale FSDO
- FAA report
- 20130317004709A
- Case key
- 86443
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 student pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during an attempted go-around.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The student pilot reported that while he was attempting to land the airplane, it drifted left, and he decided to execute a go-around. During the go-around, the airplane struck a tree located left of the runway then impacted the ground. Postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the engine firewall and wings. The student pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The student pilot reported that while attempting to land the airplane, it drifted left and he decided to execute a go-around. During the go-around, the airplane struck a tree located about 178 feet left of the runway, and subsequently impacted the ground. Post accident examination revealed damage to the engine firewall and wings. The student pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5802J
- Reported as
- Cessna 172N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17273839
- Airframe hours
- 16,114
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 SERIES, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 7, 2013
- Departed
- TUS · Tucson, AZ
- Destination
- E63 · Gila Bend, AZ
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- E63 · Gila Bend Municipal, runway 22, 5,200 × 75 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
- Student pilot
- Age
- 40
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Student
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 41 total · 41 in this make and model · 4 as pilot in command · 34 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 11 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.87 inHg
- Observed at
- KGXF, 5 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 7, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.8 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N5802J · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.