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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 22, 1986 · Cessna 172N · N738DC

Corpus Christi, TX

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 22, 1986
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Location
Corpus Christi, TX
Aircraft
Cessna 172N
Tail Number
N738DC
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW86LA036

The student was receiving dual instrument flight instruction. She had conducted several practice instrument approaches, all in VMC conditions. The last was an ILS to runway 13 at Corpus Christi International Airport. It started in VMC conditions but entered clouds at about 550 feet. The descent continued to about 300 feet at which time the CFI called a missed approach. The CFI started a climb to about 350 feet and he felt ground impact. Before impact he noted the aircraft was in a 20 degree right bank and he leveled the wings. The student stated she was in a state of fatigue when the accident occurred. She had been using the airspeed and vertical speed indicators to verify the aircraft was climbing. She made no reference to the attitude indicator for pitch control. The CFI stated he spent 3 or 4 hours with the student doing basic airwork. The CFI had renewed his CFI certificate 3 days before the accident by attending a FAA approved ground training course. There was no flight check involved in the certificate renewal.

Full Narrative

THE STUDENT WAS RECEIVING DUAL INSTRUMENT FLT INSTRUCTION. SHE HAD CONDUCTED SEVERAL PRACTICE INSTRUMENT APCHS, ALL IN VMC CONDITIONS. THE LAST WAS AN ILS TO RWY 13 AT CORPUS CHRISTI INT'L ARPT. IT STARTED IN VMC CONDITIONS BUT ENTERED CLOUDS AT ABOUT 550 FT. THE DESCENT CONTINUED TO ABOUT 300 FT AT WHICH TIME THE CFI CALLED A MISSED APCH. THE CFI STARTED A CLIMB TO ABOUT 350 FT AND HE FELT GROUND IMPACT. BEFORE IMPACT HE NOTED THE ACFT WAS IN A 20 DEG RIGHT BANK AND HE LEVELED THE WINGS. THE STUDENT STATED SHE WAS IN A STATE OF FATIGUE WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. SHE HAD BEEN USING THE AIRSPEED AND VERTICAL SPPED INDICATORS TO VERIFY THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING. SHE MADE NO REFERENCE TO THE ATTITUDE INDICATOR FOR PITCH CONTROL. THE CFI STATED HE SPENT 3 OR 4 HRS WITH THE STUDENT DOING BASIC AIRWORK. THE CFI HAD RENEWED HIS CFI CERTIFICATE 3 DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT BY ATTENDING A FAA APPROVED GROUND TRAINING COURSE. THERE WAS NO FLT CHECK INVOLVED IN THE CERTIFICATE RENEWAL.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:26 CST
Nearest AirportCorpus Christi In'L (0nm N)
Runway13
Runway Length7500 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172N
Tail NumberN738DC
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-H2AD · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor2
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 54 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDusk
Wind140° @ 13 kt
Ceiling100 ft
Temperature / Dew Point61 F / 61 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time00:26
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data