# NTSB WPR23LA210: Cessna 172, N249K, Prescott, AZ, June 3, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 3, 2023, 10:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Prescott, AZ - Coordinates: 34.659065, -112.4146 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6591&lon=-112.4146&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 192304 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA210 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192304/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192304 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA210 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was his delayed decision to initiate a go-around. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Textron 172S, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072449), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Textron 172S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2072449), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Textron 172S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=2072449), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Textron 172S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2072449), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500); cases with it: [Textron 172S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=2072449), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Textron 172S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2072449), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Textron 172S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072449), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during a discovery flight, he allowed the passenger to assume control of the airplane and guided her through various maneuvers. The passenger remained in control until reaching short final of the landing. The pilot noticed that the approach was slow and steep, prompting him to take control. He executed an early round-out maneuver and flare, but realized the airplane was too high and was responding poorly, leading him to initiate a go-around procedure. Right before he could increase the power, the left wing experienced an aerodynamic stall and dropped, resulting in contact with the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N249K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N249K), registered now, S/N 172S12830, built 2022 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (S) - Registry model: [Textron 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/textron-172s) (registry code 2072449) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S12830 - Year built: 2022 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Leighnor Aircraft LLC - Registered owner: Ff22 LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: PRC, Prescott Rgnl - Ernest A Love Fld, runway 21L, 7,619 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 13, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 762 total, 450 in this make and model, 652 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KPRC, 1 nm away - METAR: KPRC 031753Z 36004KT 10SM CLR 26/03 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP107 T02560033 10256 20106 58002 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20230603007729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230603007729A), Jun 3, 2023: Textron Aviation Inc 172S, Prescott, AZ, Substantial damage. Certified flight instructor (CFI) took his student for a discovery flight. The pilot allowed the student to fly the aircraft. After the 1.2-hour flight the CFI… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 20, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192304. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15722378&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA210%20Flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 741 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15852177&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA210%20Docket%20photo-Rel.pdf From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.