On September 15, 1990, a Cessna 172M (registration N73059) was involved in an aviation accident near Aberdeen, SD. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A SAFE AIRSPEED RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot attempting to scare blackbirds from a farmer's sunflower crop lost control during low-altitude maneuvers, resulting in a nose-down impact with the crops.
What happened
The pilot was conducting low-level flight operations over a private agricultural property to deter blackbirds from consuming sunflower seeds. This activity had been performed on a daily basis for two weeks prior to the incident. Witnesses observed the aircraft operating at an altitude of approximately 50 to 75 feet above the ground. During one pass, the pilot initiated a climb to roughly 100 feet. The aircraft subsequently entered an unrecoverable spin and impacted the sunflower field in a nose-down attitude.
The investigation
Investigation details regarding mechanical failure or specific flight control inputs were not provided in the source material. The focus remained on the observed flight path and witness accounts of the maneuvering.
What happened in the 15 Sept 1990 Cessna 172M accident near Aberdeen, SD?
A pilot attempting to scare blackbirds from a farmer's sunflower crop lost control during low-altitude maneuvers, resulting in a nose-down impact with the crops.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 15 Sept 1990 involved a Cessna 172M, registration N73059, at Aberdeen, SD.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A SAFE AIRSPEED RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN.
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