Cessna 177 N2323Y

Summary

On 19 September 2019 at about 19:02 local time, a Cessna 177 registered N2323Y was involved in an accident near Torrance, California, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 September 2019 at 19:02

Classification

Accident

Location

Torrance, California, United States

Nearest airport

Zamperini Field (TOA)

Coordinates

33.8033, -118.3397

Aircraft

Cessna 177

Registration

N2323Y

Category

Airplane

Year built

1967

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Torrance → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR19FA262

1 person died.

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and exceedance of the aircraft's critical angle of attack while turning during climb out, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.  

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor and his passenger departed for a work flight that tested radar in an airplane that was near its maximum weight limit. Videos of the accident flight showed that the airplane took off from the runway, climbed out, appeared to level off for a few seconds, then entered a right bank turn. After about 90° of turn, the airplane banked sharply to the right and entered a steep nose-down descent. The airplane impacted a building about 3/4 mile east of the airport. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. A video of the accident flight and impact markings at the accident site were consistent with the airplane entering an aerodynamic stall then steeply descending to the ground. It is likely that the pilot failed to maintain airspeed during the turn, which resulted in an exceedance of the aircraft's critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall. Toxicology testing of the pilot’s specimens detected low concentrations of ethanol and diphenhydramine that generally would not be considered impairing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.