On May 31, 1987, a Cessna 172P (registration N63597) operated by Cub Club,inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Lake Wales, FL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot selected a flap setting of 20 degrees for takeoff, which was not approved per the pilot's operating handbook, leading to a stall and subsequent crash. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a short field takeoff, a pilot selected 20 degrees of flaps, exceeding the approved 10-degree limit. At 75 feet AGL, raising flaps to 10 degrees caused a nose-high attitude, stall, and uncontrolled crash, resulting in nose gear collapse and inversion.
Incident Description
A pilot conducted a short field takeoff using a flap setting of 20 degrees, which is not approved for takeoff according to the aircraft's pilot operating handbook. The aircraft became airborne and climbed to approximately 75 feet above ground level.
Sequence of Events
At that altitude, the pilot retracted the flaps by 10 degrees, leaving them at 10 degrees. This flap reduction induced a nose-high attitude. The aircraft subsequently stalled and entered an uncontrolled descent. It struck the ground in a nose-low attitude, causing the nose landing gear to collapse. The momentum carried the aircraft onto its back, where it came to rest inverted.
Findings
The pilot operating handbook explicitly prohibits flap settings greater than 10 degrees for takeoff. The selection of 20 degrees of flaps for the takeoff was contrary to the approved procedures. The subsequent flap retraction to 10 degrees at low altitude led to an aerodynamic stall and loss of control.
Probable cause
The pilot selected a flap setting of 20 degrees for takeoff, which was not approved per the pilot's operating handbook, leading to a stall and subsequent crash.
Frequently asked questions
What happened in the 31 May 1987 Cessna 172P accident near Lake Wales, FL?
During a short field takeoff, a pilot selected 20 degrees of flaps, exceeding the approved 10-degree limit. At 75 feet AGL, raising flaps to 10 degrees caused a nose-high attitude, stall, and uncontrolled crash, resulting in nose gear collapse and inversion.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 31 May 1987 involved a Cessna 172P, registration N63597, operated by Cub Club,inc., at Lake Wales, FL.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The pilot selected a flap setting of 20 degrees for takeoff, which was not approved per the pilot's operating handbook, leading to a stall and subsequent crash.