Cessna 172R N4207P

Summary

On 26 August 2014 at about 01:58 local time, a Cessna 172R registered N4207P, operated by T & G Flying Club, was involved in an accident near Willoughby Hills, Ohio, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 August 2014 at 01:58

Classification

Accident

Location

Willoughby Hills, Ohio, United States

Nearest airport

Cuyahoga County Airport (CGF)

Coordinates

41.5722, -81.4781

Aircraft

Cessna 172R

Registration

N4207P

Category

Airplane

Year built

1999

Engines

1

Operator

T & G Flying Club

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Willoughby Hills → Willoughby Hills

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

CEN14FA453

4 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while returning to the airport immediately after takeoff, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and entering an aerodynamic stall during the turn. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in the airplane being over maximum gross weight and its subsequent decrease in takeoff climb performance.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and three passengers boarded the airplane for a local flight at night. The controller cleared the flight for takeoff and observed the airplane lift off about 2,000 feet down the runway. Shortly after liftoff, the pilot contacted the controller and reported that the airplane was not "climbing fast" and that he wanted to make a left turn to return to the airport. The controller approved the left turn and observed the airplane begin a left turn and descend to impact with the terrain. A postimpact fire ensued. Examination of the accident site indicated that the airplane impacted in a steep descent. The witness observations and the impact geometry are consistent with the pilot failing to maintain adequate airspeed while turning to return to the airport, resulting in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall. A postaccident examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have prevented normal operation of the aircraft. Weight and balance calculations showed that the airplane was between 93.6 and 165.6 pounds over maximum gross weight at the time of the accident. The decreased takeoff climb performance reported by the pilot was likely due to the airplane's over gross weight condition.    

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.