# NTSB WPR24LA181: Cessna 172P, N9567L, Santa Ynez, CA, June 5, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 5, 2024, 16:39 local (23:39 UTC) - Place: Santa Ynez, CA - Coordinates: 34.60824, -120.08484 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6082&lon=-120.0848&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 194409 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA181 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194409/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194409 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA181 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in exceedance of the critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall/spin, with insufficient altitude for recovery. The student pilot’s exceedance of the critical angle of attack which resulted in a stall and subsequent spin during a go-around. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2072436), [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. - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that while landing to the runway, he performed two go-arounds, and on the . On the third landing attempt to land, he experienced two “bumps” followed by a gust of wind which aggravated the third “bump” into an oscillation that slammed the airplane into the ground and it became airborne. The pilot , which prompted the pilot to performed a “touch-and go.” procedure” According to the pilot, while on climb out, he heard “he heard the engine die” and began the procedures for an emergency landing without engine power. While in a left turn to avoid obstacles, He reported that while in a left turn, the airplane stalled and subsequently entered a spin. spun. His last recollections were of trying to correct the spin. A witness reported that they observed the airplane on the third landing, and that it landed hard, bounced multiple times, and struck the tail and possibly the propeller before it began to climb. The witness stated that the airplane then turned left and about 150 to 200 ft above ground level (agl), it banked left and then descended and impacted the ground. They added that the engine sounded like it was at full rpm until it impacted the ground. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9567L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9567L-2024-09-09), registration cancelled 2024-09-09, S/N 17276579 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17276579 - Year built: 1986 - Airframe hours: 7910.5 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Cp Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 4, 2024 - Departed: SZP, Santa Paula, CA - Destination: IZA, Santa Ynz, CA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: IZA, Santa Ynez Airport/Kunkle Field, runway 26, 2,803 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: serious; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 112 total, 15.5 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command, 21.2 in the last 90 days, 12.7 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: KIZA - METAR: KIZA 052335Z AUTO 25009KT 10SM CLR 29/17 A2984 RMK AO2 ## 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 20240605007119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240605007119A), Jun 5, 2024: Cessna 172P, Santa Ynez, CA, Destroyed. Student pilot operating a Cessna 172 on his first solo cross country flight from kszp to kiza. Aircraft was configured for landing, with full flaps extended.… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 12, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194409. 14.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 12.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17455387&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Accident%20Report%20Scott%20Foster_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18259144&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%20for%20WPR24LA181_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Witness statements (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17481140&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC_Loren%20Courtney-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.