Cessna 172N accident near Moss Beach, CA
On November 18, 2016, a Cessna 172N (airplane) was involved in an accident near Moss Beach, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- November 18, 2016
- Place
- Moss Beach, CA
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 37.520°N, 122.511°W
- NTSB ID
- 20161118X60539
Official records · WPR17FA023
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn November 18, 2016, about 1117 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172N, N6610D, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain while on final approach to Half Moon Bay Airport (HAF), Half Moon Bay, California. The private pilot sustained serious injuries, and the passenger was fatally injured. The personal flight was operated in accordance with 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which originated from Sacramento Executive Airport (SAC), Sacramento, California, about 1015, and was destined for HAF. The pilot reported that, before departing SAC, he checked the weather for HAF, which indicated winds were from the southwest. He subsequently departed and requested visual flight rules flight following to HAF. The pilot stated that while approaching HAF, he made position reports on the airport's common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) and requested traffic information. Someone responded that the wind was from the southeast up to 15 knots (kts) and that runway 12 was in use. The pilot stated that he entered the airport traffic pattern for runway 12, and that as the airplane entered the final leg of the traffic pattern, the visual approach slope indicator (VASI) lights indicated that the airplane was high. At that time, the airplane was at an altitude about 800 ft mean sea level (msl) and at an airspeed of 65 kts when he reduced power to intercept the VASI glideslope. As the airplane continued on the final approach path with full flaps (30°) at 60 kts and abo
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of airplane control following an encounter with low level wind shear and turbulence during final approach for landing. Contributing to the loss of control was the pilot's decision to retract the wing flaps on final approach, which resulted in a sudden loss of lift.
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Browse: California · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
