Cessna 172S accident near New Smyrna Beach, FL

On February 16, 2011, a Cessna 172S (airplane) was involved in an accident near New Smyrna Beach, FL. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.

Date

February 16, 2011

Place

New Smyrna Beach, FL

Aircraft

Cessna 172S · Airplane

Injuries

2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Substantial

Position

28.952°N, 80.834°W

NTSB ID

20110216X14239

Official records · ERA11FA146

• Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation

Air traffic control records

• Partial FAA Air Traffic Control Transcript: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• ATC 3 - Attachment 2 - ATC Radar Data PPB File: Document (ZIP), on ntsb.gov
• ATC 3 - Attachment 1 - Radar Plot: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On February 16, 2011, at 1828 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172S, N6345L, operated by Phoenix East Aviation, Inc., was substantially damaged when it impacted ocean waters just off New Smyrna Beach, Florida. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and the private pilot under instruction were fatally injured. Twilight visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and at the time, the airplane was not operating on a flight plan. The instructional flight, which departed Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport (SRQ), Sarasota, Florida, at 1606, destined for Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB), Daytona Beach, Florida, was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the private pilot's training folder, he was working toward his instrument rating, and the flight objective was "to learn how to accurately plan and conduct an IFR [(instrument flight rules)] cross-country flight and become more familiar with IFR departure, en route and arrival procedures." A view limiting device was required. According to a flight school representative, the airplane was originally operating on an IFR flight plan from SRQ, to Melbourne International Airport (MLB), Melbourne, Florida, and then to DAB. The private pilot was in the left front seat, and per the lesson completion standard, "the student should have command of the airplane at all times during the flight." A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) partial air traffic control transcript revealed that one of the pilots contacted Daytona Approach Control at 1818:15, and stated that

Probable cause

The flight instructor's failure to recognize or implement adequate remedial action to counter the effects of spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident was the spatial disorientation experienced by one or both pilots.

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Browse: Florida · Cessna aircraft

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.