Cessna 172L N7632G

Summary

On 6 September 2003 at about 22:11 local time, a Cessna 172L registered N7632G, operated by Southern Wings, Inc., was involved in an accident near New Braunfels, Texas, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 September 2003 at 22:11

Classification

Accident

Location

New Braunfels, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

New Braunfels Municipal Airpor (BAZ)

Coordinates

29.6850, -98.0347

Aircraft

Cessna 172L

Registration

N7632G

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Southern Wings, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

New Braunfels → Killeen

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW03FA212

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed sufficient for flight resulting in an inadvertent stall/spin during takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During takeoff, the airplane entered an extremely steep climb, stalled, and impacted the terrain in a nose low, left wing low attitude. According to local authorities, the three occupants of the airplane were on a reported weekend hunting trip the night before the accident flight. Ticket stubs from a bus company indicated the three individuals departed approximately 0300 on a bus and then arrived at a family members residence approximately 0630. After approximately six hours of rest, the 200-hour pilot called the flight school and reserved the airplane for an unplanned flight. Witnesses observed the airplane taxi to runway 17. Runway 35 had been the active runway that was used during an airshow that just ended. During takeoff, the airplane lifted off "into an extremely steep climb," and appearing "kind of tippy." The airplane started a turn to the left, "not very high off the ground with the wings dipping back and forth." One witness stated, "[the] pilot appeared to attempt a recovery, but seemed to overcorrect and pull up too fast." The airplane "pitched downward towards the left and entered a spin towards the right" and impacted the ground. Flight control continuity was established throughout the airplane at the accident site. No mechanical anomalies were noted with the engine or airframe. No radio headsets, charts, flight gear, or logbooks were located within the aircraft wreckage. The airplane was found to be within weight and balance limits.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.