First Flight Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Kill Devil Hlls, North Carolina 27948
Friday, September 17, 2004 10:25 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated he completed seven or eight touch-and-go landings uneventfully. The pilot stated that, while on final approach for the last touch-and-go about 70 feet above the ground, the airplane sank uncontrollably. The pilot stated he added power, and the airplane continued to sink until it collided with the ground. A review of recorded weather data for the airport revealed at 1021 winds were from 150 degrees at 8 knots, direction variable between 121 and 181 degrees, sky condition clear. At 1100, winds were from 150 degrees at 9 knots gusting to 15 knots, direction variable between 131 degrees and 201 degrees, sky condition scattered at 3000, 5000, and 9000 feet. A review of satellite imagery revealed the presence of cumulus clouds in the area.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

An in-flight encounter with a downdraft on final approach, which resulted in a loss of control of the airplane and subsequent collision with the ground.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/17/2004
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1025
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Kill Devil Hlls
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 27948
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 360105N
Event Location Longitude 0754016W
Event Location Airport First Flight
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KFFA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source --
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KFFA 171400Z AUTO 17007KT A2996 RMK AO1 PWIN
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency --
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16659
NTSB Notification Source FAA Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 3 2004 9:35AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N986AC
NTSB Number ATL04CA188
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172L
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17259289
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Wright Flight, Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City --
Aircraft Owner State --
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Wright Flight, Inc.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Tucson
Operator State AZ
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code KMQI
Departure City Manteo
Departure State NC
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 15 2004 2:53PM
User who most recently changed record POWP
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 20
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --