Cessna 172 N733EC

Summary

On 10 June 2016 at about 19:30 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N733EC, operated by Bergstrom Aircraft Inc., was involved in an accident near Pasco, Washington, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 June 2016 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Pasco, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Tri-Cities (PSC)

Coordinates

46.2667, -119.1183

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N733EC

Category

Airplane

Year built

1976

Engines

1

Operator

Bergstrom Aircraft Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pasco → Pasco

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA16CA305

1 person had minor injuries.

The flight instructor's failure to maintain pitch control during the simulated engine failure after takeoff, which resulted in a hard landing, landing gear(s) collapse, and wing damage.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor reported that about 150 feet above the ground during the initial climb, he reduced the power to idle to demonstrate loss of engine power during takeoff. He further reported that he lowered the nose of the airplane to gain airspeed, but after about 2 seconds the airplane settled rapidly. The flight instructor advanced the throttle to full forward, and flared about 20 feet above the ground to arrest the sink rate. He reported that the airplane landed flat, all three landing gear collapsed, and the airplane skidded about 150 feet down the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing.  According to the flight instructor there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport, revealed that, about 37 minutes before the accident the wind was 200 degrees true at 16 knots, wind gusts 23 knots. A further review revealed that, about 27 minutes after the accident the wind was 190 degrees true at 17 knots, wind gusts 27 knots. The airplane landed on runway 21R.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.