Cessna 172S N970SP

Summary

On 1 August 2004 at about 21:21 local time, a Cessna 172S registered N970SP was involved in an accident near Waterloo, Alabama, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 August 2004 at 21:21

Classification

Accident

Location

Waterloo, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Savannah - Hardin County (KSNH)

Coordinates

34.9106, -88.0606

Aircraft

Cessna 172S

Registration

N970SP

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Savannah → Olive Branch

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL04LA164

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in a stall and subsequent uncontrolled descent and collision into water.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot told an acquaintance he would fly the airplane over the acquaintance's home and over the river. Two witnesses in a boat, both of whom were certificated flight instructors, observed the airplane flying low and circling over the river as if searching for a house or a boat. The witnesses then saw the airplane slowly descend to approximately 50 feet above the water, level off, and continue to fly over the water for about a mile or more. They then saw the airplane nose up steeply and climb to approximately 250 to 300 feet. The witnesses stated, "the aircraft stalled, made a half turn to the right, and plunged nose-first into the water." Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunction was observed.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.