Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 172 near Dahlonega, GA — 2022-03-19

Final reportERA22FA161
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Date
2022-03-19
Location
Dahlonega, GA, USA
Airport
9A0
Aircraft
CESSNA 172
Registration
N1410F
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot’s delay in initiating a go-around and his failure to maintain airplane control during the initial climb, which resulted in the exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall.

NTSB narrative

The pilot obtained his private pilot certificate about 1 year prior to the accident and had accumulated a total flight experience of approximately 94 hours at the time of the accident. Toward the end of the cross-country flight, the pilot flew a straight-in approach to a valley airport. The airplane made a high speed approach (about 95 knots true airspeed) with the flaps retracted. Witnesses reported that the airplane touched down and bounced twice on its nose landing gear. When the airplane was toward the end of the runway, engine noise increased, and the airplane began a climbing left turn to clear trees. The airplane subsequently impacted terrain. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The debris path and impact signatures were consistent with an aerodynamic stall. Based on the evidence, the pilot likely made a delayed decision to perform a go-around after touchdown and exceeded the airplane’s critical angle of attack as the airplane began the climbing left turn to avoid trees.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Controlled flight into terrain
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the landing due to high approach speed and lack of flaps.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Video
  • ADS-B / radar
  • Photos
  • 17 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents17

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