Ferguson Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pensacola, Florida 32506
Sunday, September 3, 2006 9:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The instructor stated that he had been working with the student pilot that morning in preparation for the student's first solo flight. Upon completion of the dual instruction, he instructed the student to perform full stop landings. He was going to be in communication with the student with a hand held radio during the solo takeoffs and landings. He went to the approach end of runway 36 to observe the student. The first takeoff and landing were uneventful. During the second landing, on short final, it appeared the airplane was slightly high. The airplane then seemed to assume a flared attitude appropriate for landing but well above the runway. He heard power applied partially to slow the descent, followed by full power, consistent with initiating a go around. He did not observe the airplane climb in altitude, so he radioed the student for 20 degrees of flaps. About that time the student initiated a left turn, barely clearing trees on the west side of the runway. He was unable to radio better instructions as he observed the aircraft maintain 30-50 feet of altitude in the turn, then descend below the tree line, followed by an impact sound. The student pilot stated that he had been practicing takeoffs and landings with his flight instructor for about an hour and the instructor felt that he was ready to conduct his first solo takeoffs and landings. The instructor made the proper endorsement in his pilot's logbook before permitting him to go solo. His first takeoff and landing were uneventful. During the second landing, he felt the airplane was too high and fast. He applied full engine power and attempted to turn left with 40 degrees of flaps. He heard his instructor on the airport's Unicom frequency, telling him to select 20 degrees of flaps. He attempted to select 20 degrees of flaps; however he saw the trees in front of him. The airplane impacted the top of the tree before coming to a stop on the ground. The student pilot stated there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot's failure to raise the wing flaps for a go-around resulting in the airplane not climbing and an in-flight collision with trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/3/2006
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 915
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Pensacola
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32506
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 302356N
Event Location Longitude 0872055W
Event Location Airport Ferguson Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 82J
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 856 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 135
Weather Observation Facility ID KNPA
Elevation of weather observation facility 27
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 3
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3700
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 9
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.98
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency --
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 20758
NTSB Notification Source FAA Atlanta Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date Sep 3 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 28 2006 9:08AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FSDO-09 / Birmingham, Alabama

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1210F
NTSB Number MIA06CA134
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172N
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17272971
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Randall, Henry E Trustee
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City --
Aircraft Owner State --
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Ferguson Aviation Academy
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Pensacola
Operator State FL
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code K82J
Departure City Pensacola
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 910
Departure Time Zone CDT
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 --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 29 2006 10:55AM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 3200
Runway Width 120
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --