Cessna 172M N85HC
24 July 1991 · Phillips, Maine, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 24 July 1991 at about 16:10 local time, a Cessna 172M registered N85HC, operated by LEO A Pratt, was involved in an accident near Phillips, Maine, United States. 4 people were on board and 3 were seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 16:10
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Phillips, Maine, United States
- Nearest airport
- Raymond (NONE)
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M
- Registration
- N85HC
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- LEO A Pratt
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Turner
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC91FA188
People
3 people were seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
AN INADVERTENT STALL AND LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE WING FLAPS FOR TAKEOFF. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S MISUNDERSTANDING OF AIRPLANE PERFORMANCE, AND THE PILOT'S DECISION TO TAKEOFF UPHILL.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT MADE A TAKEOFF WITH THE FLAPS SET AT 30 DEGREES, ON AN UPHILL RUNWAY INTO THE WIND. THE AIRPLANE WAS LOADED AT OR NEAR ITS GROSS WEIGHT. THERE WAS RISING TERRAIN OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY WHICH EXCEEDED THE ABILITY OF THE AIRPLANE TO CLIMB. THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND STRUCK THE GROUND. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THE WING FLAPS WERE AT 35 DEGREES AND THE PILOT WHEN INTERVIEWED SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. HE SAID HE USED THE 30 DEGREE FLAP SETTING TO GET AIRBORNE FASTER. IN THE CESSNA 172M OWNER'S MANUAL, FLAP SETTINGS GREATER THAN 10 DEGREES ARE NOT RECOMMENDED FOR TAKEOFF.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Cessna 172 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Apr 1991 | Cessna 172P | College Park, Maryland, United States | Civil Air Patrol, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 25 Apr 1991 | Cessna 172 | Detroit, Michigan, United States | Eximous Flying Club, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jul 1991 | Cessna 172N | Napa, California, United States | Bridgeford Flying SVC. | No injuries | - |
| 9 Apr 1991 | Cessna 172H | Morehead, Kentucky, United States | Roger Wend | Minor injuries | - |
| 5 Apr 1991 | Cessna 172A | Hood River, Oregon, United States | Paul J. Welp | No injuries | - |
| 31 Mar 1991 | Cessna 172M | Ogden, Utah, United States | Alta Aircraft | No injuries | - |
All 12,209 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Jul 1991 | Piper PA-11 | Eagle Lake, Maine, United States | Conrad el Daigle | Minor injuries | - |
| 28 Jul 1991 | Cessna 172P | Greenville, Maine, United States | Folsom's Air Service, Inc | Minor injuries | - |
| 23 Aug 1991 | Cessna 150 | Ashland, Maine, United States | Garry Nelson, SR. | No injuries | - |
| 8 Sep 1991 | Taylorcraft BC/2D | Rangeley, Maine, United States | George S COY | Minor injuries | - |
| 12 May 1991 | Cessna 185F | Sanford, Maine, United States | George Grinnall | Minor injuries | - |
| 21 Sep 1991 | Lake LA-4 | Wilton, Maine, United States | Al's Air Service, Inc. | No injuries | - |