Cessna 172P N97890

Summary

On 25 February 2003 at about 22:51 local time, a Cessna 172P registered N97890 was involved in an accident near Osteen, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 February 2003 at 22:51

Classification

Accident

Location

Osteen, Florida, United States

Coordinates

28.8247, -81.0186

Aircraft

Cessna 172P

Registration

N97890

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sanford → New Smyrna Bch

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA03FA066

1 person died.

The intentional suicidal act by the pilot-in-command resulting in the in-flight collision with trees then the ground.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight departed with full fuel tanks, proceeded eastbound then northwest bound and when the flight was east-northeast of the departure airport, the pilot performed approximately four 360-degree turns to the left. During each orbit, the airplane moved closer to the departure airport. The last recorded radar target at 600 feet was located at 28 degrees 49.1 minutes North latitude and 081 degrees 01.73 minutes West longitude. The airplane crashed in a wooded area during daylight hours, the crash site was located approximately 061 degrees and .66 nautical mile from the last radar target. The ELT activated, and a search for the airplane was initiated by the Civil Air Patrol, and local law enforcement. The wreckage was spotted 10 hours and 44 minutes after the time of the accident. The fuselage and wings were fragmented. All components necessary to sustain flight were attached or located in close proximity to the accident site. The flaps were retracted. Examination of the flight controls revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. Following recovery the engine was placed on a test stand, and with a replacement propeller installed, the engine was started and operated to 2,300 rpm; the rpm drop during each magneto check was between 100 and 150 rpm. The autopsy report indicates the manner of death as "suicide."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.