Cessna 172P N65777

Summary

On 26 May 1989 at about 01:33 local time, a Cessna 172P registered N65777, operated by City of Fort Lauderdale, was involved in an accident near Davie, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 May 1989 at 01:33

Classification

Accident

Location

Davie, Florida, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Cessna 172P

Registration

N65777

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

City of Fort Lauderdale

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tallahassee → Fort Lauderdale

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

MIA89GA155

2 people died.

FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRPLANE CONTROL WHILE ENTERING AN AREA OF TURBULENCE CAUSED BY WILD FIRES ON THE GROUND BENEATH HIS FLIGHT PATH.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE POLICE OFFICER/PILOT FLYING THE PUBLIC USE AIRPLANE ON A NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY INSTRUMENT FLIGHT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO TURN, AND DESCEND IN AN AREA OF TURBULENCE CAUSED BY WILD FIRES ON THE GROUND. THE PILOT'S LAST TRANSMISSION WAS THAT HE WAS IN A 'DEADMANS SPIN'. COMPARISON OF THE PILOTS LOGBOOK WITH AN AIRPLANE FLIGHT LOG REVEALED DESCREPANCIES. THEREFORE, THE EXACT AMOUNT OF FLIGHT EXPERIENCE WHICH THE PILOT HAD COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.