- Date
- November 11, 2012, 11:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place
- Maricopa, AZ
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N65835Cessna 172P
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 15, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- FAA FSDO, Textron Aviation
- FAA report
- 20121111024389A
- Case key
- 85554
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 failure to maintain proper pitch control during the initial climb, which resulted in a stall, loss of airplane control, and collision with terrain.
Findings · 2
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 pilot reported that the airplane lifted off about 300 feet from the end of the 2,400-foot-long dirt runway. Shortly after takeoff, the airplane pitched up. The airplane then stalled, and the left wing dropped. The pilot was unable to recover control of the airplane before it impacted the ground. The airplane came to rest about 600 feet from the end of the runway. A postaccident examination of the airframe revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
On November 11, 2012, about 1145 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172P, N65835, collided with terrain during the initial climb following takeoff from Mel's Ranch Airport (AZ78) near Maricopa, Arizona. Sunrise Aviation was operating the rental airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The private pilot sustained minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage from impact forces. The cross-country personal flight was departing with a planned destination of Santa Ana, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.The pilot reported that the airplane lifted off about 300 feet from the end of runway 27; the runway surface was dirt, and it was 2,400 feet long. Shortly after takeoff, the airplane pitched up; the airplane stalled, and the left wing dropped. The pilot was unable to recover prior to the airplane contacting the ground. The airplane came to rest about 600 feet from the end of runway. A post-accident examination of the airframe revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N65835
- Reported as
- Cessna 172P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17275903
- Built
- 1982
- Airframe hours
- 6,237
- Engine
- Lycoming 0-320-D2J, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Sunrise Aviation
- Registered owner
- Starcraft Enterprises Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 1, 2012
- Departed
- AZ78 · Maricopa, AZ
- Destination
- SNA · Santa Ana, CA
- Airport
- AZ78 · Mel's Ranch, runway 27, 2,400 × 80 ft, dirt
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
- 49
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 6, 2012
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 138 total · 123 in this make and model · 45 as pilot in command · 37 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.28 inHg
- Observed at
- KGYR
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 12, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.4 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.