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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

December 28, 1991 · Cessna 172RG · N9718B

Melbourne, FL

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 28, 1991
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Location
Melbourne, FL
Aircraft
Cessna 172RG
Tail Number
N9718B
Operator
Alpha Flight
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
MIA92FA053

ACCORDING TO PVT RATED STUDENT AND THE ACFT OPERATOR THE CFI WAS DESIGNATED PILOT IN COMMAND FOR THE INSTRUCTIONAL FLT. THE STUDENT DID NOT HAVE A COMPLEX ACFT CHECKOUT AND COULD NOT BE PILOT IN COMMAND. ACCORDING TO THE CFI AND STUDENT THE STUDENT PERFORMED A POWER OFF APPROACH. ON BASE LEG WHEN IT APPEARED ACFT WAS LOW CFI TOOK CONTROLS TO COMPLETE APPCH. WHEN FINAL WAS OVERSHOT CFI STARTED GO AROUND AND ATTEMPTED TO RAISE FLAPS TO 10 DEGREES. THE ACFT STALLED AND DESCENDED LEFT WING LOW STRIKING THE GROUND. THE ACFT THEN CARTWHEELED. POST CRASH EXAMINATION INDICATED THE FLAPS WERE FULLY RETRACTED AT GROUND IMPACT. THE ACFT'S ENGINE, FLIGHT CONTROLS, FLAP SYSTEM, AND STALL WARNING SYSTEM WERE INSPECTED AND REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PRECRASH FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHILE DEMONSTRATING A POWER OFF APPROACH TO THE STUDENT AND HIS IMPROPER RETRACTION OF THE WING FLAPS DURING GO AROUND FROM THE APPROACH RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AND INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT INTO THE GROUND.

Full Narrative

ACCORDING TO PVT RATED STUDENT AND THE ACFT OPERATOR THE CFI WAS DESIGNATED PILOT IN COMMAND FOR THE INSTRUCTIONAL FLT. THE STUDENT DID NOT HAVE A COMPLEX ACFT CHECKOUT AND COULD NOT BE PILOT IN COMMAND. ACCORDING TO THE CFI AND STUDENT THE STUDENT PERFORMED A POWER OFF APPROACH. ON BASE LEG WHEN IT APPEARED ACFT WAS LOW CFI TOOK CONTROLS TO COMPLETE APPCH. WHEN FINAL WAS OVERSHOT CFI STARTED GO AROUND AND ATTEMPTED TO RAISE FLAPS TO 10 DEGREES. THE ACFT STALLED AND DESCENDED LEFT WING LOW STRIKING THE GROUND. THE ACFT THEN CARTWHEELED. POST CRASH EXAMINATION INDICATED THE FLAPS WERE FULLY RETRACTED AT GROUND IMPACT. THE ACFT'S ENGINE, FLIGHT CONTROLS, FLAP SYSTEM, AND STALL WARNING SYSTEM WERE INSPECTED AND REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PRECRASH FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:59 EST
Nearest AirportMelbourne Regional (1nm W)
Runway9
Runway Length6000 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172RG
Tail NumberN9718B
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAlpha Flight
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-F1AG · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 24 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind190° @ 11 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingOvercast 20000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point66 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time16:08
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data