Cessna 172K N1196M

Summary

On 2 August 1992 at about 04:18 local time, a Cessna 172K registered N1196M, operated by Rockledge Air Park, Inc., was involved in an accident near Rockledge, Florida, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 August 1992 at 04:18

Classification

Accident

Location

Rockledge, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Rockledge Airpark (X65)

Coordinates

28.3091, -80.7203

Aircraft

Cessna 172K

Registration

N1196M

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Rockledge Air Park, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

River Ranch → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

MIA92FA158

4 people died.

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING THE FINAL APPROACH RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OPERATION, LACK OF EXPERIENCE AT THE AIRPORT IN THE TYPE OPERATION.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

BEFORE THE ACCIDENT FLT DEPARTED, THE PLT OBTAINED A WX BRIEFING FOR THE RETURN FLIGHT & ADVISED THE BRIEFER THAT THERE WERE RAIN SHOWERS AT THE ARPT. THE BRIEFER ADVISED THE PLT THEY WOULD PASS THROUGH IN 30-45 MINUTES, THEN THE AREA WOULD BE CLEAR. THE PLT CALLED AGAIN, RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING & FILED A VFR FLIGHT PLAN. THE FLT DEPARTED, AND THE PLT ACTIVATED HIS FLT PLAN. THERE WAS NO FURTHER RADIO CONTACT WITH THE PLT. WITNESSES NEAR THE DESTINATION ARPT REPORTED HEARING AN ACFT MAKE TWO PASSES TO THE SOUTH ORIENTED RWY IN AN ATTEMPT TO LAND DURING THE DARK NIGHT. DURING THE THIRD APPROACH, THE ACFT STALLED & CRASHED APRX 1/4 MILE SHORT OF THE RWY. FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY WAS VERIFIED. THERE WAS NO PRE-IMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ENG. REVIEW OF THE PLT'S LOGBOOK REVEALED THAT THERE WAS A BREAK IN HIS FLYING FROM 7/24/89 TO 6/20/92. THE LAST ENTRY LOGGED WAS A NIGHT FLT ON 7/19/92. THE PREVIOUS NIGHT FLT WAS ON 7/8/89. IN THE PREVIOUS 3 YRS ONLY 1 NIGHT LANDING LOGGED AT THE DESTINATION ARPT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.