Cessna 172M N13711

Summary

On 4 February 1998 at about 01:45 local time, a Cessna 172M registered N13711, operated by Gregg R. Gandy, was involved in an accident near Bulverde, Texas, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 February 1998 at 01:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Bulverde, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Bulverde (11XS)

Coordinates

29.8004, -98.7290

Aircraft

Cessna 172M

Registration

N13711

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Gregg R. Gandy

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Boerne → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

FTW98LA118

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain the proper glidepath following a total electrical failure resulting from an inoperative voltage regulator. Factors were the dark night conditions, the pilot's lack of experience in night flying, and the trees.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the dark night landing approach for runway 34, following a total electrical system failure, the airplane struck trees. The pilot was on a lower glidepath and a higher airspeed than when using flaps (electric). The pilot planned the descent to touch down just beyond the threshold lights to allow as much runway as possible for a faster than normal landing. The pilot had 4.4 hours of night flight time. An examination of the electrical system revealed that the voltage regulator was not operating properly. Maintenance history for the electrical system components is unknown.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.