N80814

Substantial
Minor

Cessna 172M S/N: 172-66759

Accident Details

Date
Sunday, February 16, 1997
NTSB Number
FTW97LA104
Location
SAN ANTONIO, TX
Event ID
20001208X07402
Coordinates
29.539873, -98.489273
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
1
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed resulting in an inadvertent stall. A factor was the pilot's lack of recent experience.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N80814
Make
CESSNA
Serial Number
172-66759
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1976
Model / ICAO
172M C172
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
WRIGHT FLYERS INC
Address
10440 JOHN CAPE
Status
Deregistered
City
SAN ANTONIO
State / Zip Code
TX 78216
Country
United States

Analysis

On February 16, 1997, at 1239 central standard time, a Cessna 172M was substantially damaged following a lost of control while landing near San Antonio, Texas. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. The airplane was owned and operated by Wright Flyers Inc., of San Antonio, Texas, on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight for which a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated from the San Antonio International Airport, at approximately 1130.

According to the pilot, "he had not flown for over a year, so he elected to rent an airplane and fly to the Stinson Municipal Airport to practice some takeoffs and landings." The pilot reported to the FAA inspector that while on his fifth approach to a full stop landing on runway 14, "he found himself high for landing and allowed his airspeed to get too slow after he configured the airplane with full flaps." The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions and stated that he did not hear the sound of the stall warning horn.

On the enclosed NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that "a gust of wind flipped the right wing upward, sending the airplane into a diving turn to the left." The left wing separated from the airframe after the airplane impacted the door of a hangar located on the east side of the runway. The hangar sustained minor damage and a cowling on the airplane parked in the hangar was damaged.

The private pilot, who received his private pilot certificate in 1973, had accumulated a total of 157 hours. His last flight, which was also his last BFR, was performed on February 25, 1996.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# FTW97LA104