Topsail Island Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

N Topsail Beach, North Carolina 28445
Monday, March 2, 1992 11:20 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE NEWLY CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT WAS TAKING 3 FRIENDS ON A LOCAL PLEASURE FLIGHT. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED SOON AFTER TAKEOFF, NARROWLY CLEARED A FUEL TANK AND TRAILER, AND ROLLED OFF TO THE LEFT. HE STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING NORMALLY UNTIL GROUND IMPACT. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND IN A NEARLY VERTICAL, NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE, WITH THE FLAPS UP. THE 90-HOUR PILOT HAD LOGGED ONLY 5 HOURS IN THE C172. POST ACCIDENT WEIGHT AND BALANCE CALCULATIONS ESTIMATED THE TAKEOFF GROSS WEIGHT TO BE ABOUT 2474 POUNDS, THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE TAKEOFF WEIGHT FOR THIS AIRPLANE WAS 2400.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO OBTAIN AND/OR MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING TAKEOFF, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AND COLLISION WITH THE GROUND. FACTORS WERE: THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO FOLLOW PROCEDURES/DIRECTIVES, HIS OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT WITH EXCESSIVE GROSS WEIGHT, AND HIS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE AS A PILOT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/2/1992
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1120
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City N TOPSAIL BEACH
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 28445
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport TOPSAIL ISLAND
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 54T
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 10
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1100 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 345
Weather Observation Facility ID OAJ
Elevation of weather observation facility 94
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 22
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 228
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46246
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:47PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N65988
NTSB Number ATL92FA053
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172P
Aircraft Series Identifier 172P
Aircraft Serial Number 17275939
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Dec 19 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 80
Airframe Hours 3733
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name I.S.O. AERO SERVICES, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1294
Aircraft Owner City KINSTON
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 28501
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name I.S.O. AERO SERVICES, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 1294
Operator City KINSTON
Operator State NC
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 28501
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1120
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 24
Runway Length 2600
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --