Cessna 172L N986AC

Summary

On 17 September 2004 at about 14:25 local time, a Cessna 172L registered N986AC, operated by Wright Flight, Inc., was involved in an accident near Kill Devil Hlls, North Carolina, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 September 2004 at 14:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Kill Devil Hlls, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

First Flight (KFFA)

Coordinates

36.0181, -75.6711

Aircraft

Cessna 172L

Registration

N986AC

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Wright Flight, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Manteo → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL04CA188

1 person was seriously injured.

An in-flight encounter with a downdraft on final approach, which resulted in a loss of control of the airplane and subsequent collision with the ground.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated he completed seven or eight touch-and-go landings uneventfully. The pilot stated that, while on final approach for the last touch-and-go about 70 feet above the ground, the airplane sank uncontrollably. The pilot stated he added power, and the airplane continued to sink until it collided with the ground. A review of recorded weather data for the airport revealed at 1021 winds were from 150 degrees at 8 knots, direction variable between 121 and 181 degrees, sky condition clear. At 1100, winds were from 150 degrees at 9 knots gusting to 15 knots, direction variable between 131 degrees and 201 degrees, sky condition scattered at 3000, 5000, and 9000 feet. A review of satellite imagery revealed the presence of cumulus clouds in the area.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.