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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

January 27, 1990 · Cessna 172N · N75946

Gaithersburg, MD

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 27, 1990
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Location
Gaithersburg, MD
Aircraft
Cessna 172N
Tail Number
N75946
Operator
Montgomery Aviation
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
BFO90LA022

THE DUAL STUDENT PLT WAS ATTEMPTING HIS FIRST LNDG IN A CESSNA 172. ALL OF HIS PREVIOUS FLTS WERE IN CESSNA 150. THE INSTRUCTOR PLT (CFI) STATED HE WAS GOING TO EVALUATE THE LNDG & DETERMINE IF THE STUDENT WAS TO COUNTINUE WITH MORE LNDGS. ACCORDING TO THE CFI & STUDENT, WIND GUSTS WERE OCCURRING. THE STUDENT STATED THAT DURING THE APPROACH, THE FLAPS WERE SET AT 30 DEGREES & THE AIRSPEED WAS ABOUT 60 KTS. HE STATED THAT HE 'CRABBED' INTO THE WIND, & WHEN HE STARTED THE LANDING FLARE, THE ACFT DRIFTED LEFT OF THE RWY & THE STALL WARNING HORN SOUNDED. THE CFI TOOK CONTROL OF THE ACFT & TRIED TO CORRECT THE SITUATION. HOWEVER, THE ACFT SUBSEQUENTLY ROLLED ABRUPTLY TO THE LEFT & HIT THE GROUND WITH FIRST THE LEFT WING, THEN THE NOSE.

NTSB Probable Cause

INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI), WHICH RESULTED IN FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND A SUBSEQUENT STALL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: GUSTY/CROSSWIND CONDITIONS, THE STUDENT PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT, AND THE CFI'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE AS AN INSTRUCTOR PILOT.

Full Narrative

THE DUAL STUDENT PLT WAS ATTEMPTING HIS FIRST LNDG IN A CESSNA 172. ALL OF HIS PREVIOUS FLTS WERE IN CESSNA 150. THE INSTRUCTOR PLT (CFI) STATED HE WAS GOING TO EVALUATE THE LNDG & DETERMINE IF THE STUDENT WAS TO COUNTINUE WITH MORE LNDGS. ACCORDING TO THE CFI & STUDENT, WIND GUSTS WERE OCCURRING. THE STUDENT STATED THAT DURING THE APPROACH, THE FLAPS WERE SET AT 30 DEGREES & THE AIRSPEED WAS ABOUT 60 KTS. HE STATED THAT HE 'CRABBED' INTO THE WIND, & WHEN HE STARTED THE LANDING FLARE, THE ACFT DRIFTED LEFT OF THE RWY & THE STALL WARNING HORN SOUNDED. THE CFI TOOK CONTROL OF THE ACFT & TRIED TO CORRECT THE SITUATION. HOWEVER, THE ACFT SUBSEQUENTLY ROLLED ABRUPTLY TO THE LEFT & HIT THE GROUND WITH FIRST THE LEFT WING, THEN THE NOSE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:55 EST
Nearest AirportMontgomery County (0nm N)
Runway14
Runway Length4196 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172N
Tail NumberN75946
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorMontgomery Aviation
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-H2AD · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 32 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind180° @ 12 kt
Visibility25 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point52 / 21 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time20:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data