National Transportation Safety Board

Aviation Accident Final Report

Location: Yakima, Washington Accident Number: WPR20CA125

Date & Time: April 19, 2020, 17:30 Local Registration: N75765
Aircraft: Cessna 172 Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Low altitude operation/event Injuries: 2 Minor
Flight Conducted
Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Under:

Analysis

The pilot reported that he chose to conduct a low approach over the private airstrip to familiarize himself
with it and then go around. He approached the airstrip from the north and entered the left base leg. After
turning onto final, the airplane was on a stabilized approach. About 20 ft above ground level, he applied
full power, pitched the nose up, and retracted the flaps. The airplane would not gain altitude and was
quickly approaching the uphill elevation of the airstrip. The airplane narrowly cleared the hill at the end
of the airstrip but continued to lose altitude. The airplane impacted terrain, went over an embankment,
nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The fuselage and wings were substantially damaged. The pilot
reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would
have precluded normal operation.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

The pilot's failure to attain sufficient altitude during a go-around, which resulted in impact with hilly
terrain.

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Findings
Aircraft Altitude - Not attained/maintained
Personnel issues Aircraft control - Pilot
Environmental issues Mountainous/hilly terrain - Effect on operation

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Factual Information

History of Flight
Approach-VFR go-around Miscellaneous/other
Maneuvering-low-alt flying Low altitude operation/event (Defining event)
Approach-VFR go-around Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)

Information
Certificate: Age:
Airplane Rating(s): Seat Occupied:
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Second Pilot Present:
Instructor Rating(s): Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Cessna Registration: N75765
Model/Series: 172 N Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1976 Amateur Built:
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal Serial Number: 17267934
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: March 17, 2020 Annual Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2299 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 20 Hrs Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 9625 Hrs as of last inspection Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: Installed, not activated Engine Model/Series: O-360 SERIES
Registered Owner: Rated Power: 180 Horsepower
Operator: On file Operating Certificate(s) None
Held:

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Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC) Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: YKM,1099 ft msl Distance from Accident Site: 13 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 19:00 Local Direction from Accident Site: 197°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear Visibility 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 6 knots / Turbulence Type None / None
Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: 160° Turbulence Severity N/A / N/A
Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 29.93 inches Hg Temperature/Dew Point: 22°C / 2°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Chelan, WA (S10 ) Type of Flight Plan Filed: Unknown
Destination: Yakima, WA (YKM ) Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 16:59 Local Type of Airspace:

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger 1 Minor Aircraft Fire: None
Injuries:
Ground Injuries: N/A Aircraft None
Explosion:
Total Injuries: 2 Minor Latitude, 46.773056,-120.440551(est)
Longitude:

Administrative Information
Investigator In Charge (IIC):
Additional Participating
Persons:
Original Publish Date:
Note:
Investigation Docket:
Link, Samantha
David Hartson; Federal Aviation Administration; Spokane, WA
September 21, 2020
This accident report documents the factual circumstances of this accident as described
to the NTSB.
https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101176

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 The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), established in 1967, is an
independent federal agency mandated by Congress through the
Independent Safety Board Act of 1974 to investigate transportation
accidents, determine the probable causes of the accidents, issue safety
recommendations, study transportation safety issues, and evaluate the
safety effectiveness of government agencies involved in transportation. The
NTSB makes public its actions and decisions through accident reports,
safety studies, special investigation reports, safety recommendations, and
statistical reviews.

The Independent Safety Board Act, as codified at 49 U.S.C. Section 1154(b),

precludes the admission into evidence or use of any part of an NTSB report
related to an incident or accident in a civil action for damages resulting from
a matter mentioned in the report. A factual report that may be admissible
under 49 U.S.C. § 1154(b) is available here.

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