On June 24, 1991, a Cessna 172 (registration N8382B) operated by James F. Ballard was involved in an aviation accident near Payson, AZ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's decision to rotate at an airspeed below the recommended minimum, resulting in a stall during takeoff. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A private pilot attempted takeoff but lifted off prematurely at low airspeed, triggering a stall warning. The aircraft stalled immediately and crashed into the terrain.
What happened
The private pilot intended to achieve liftoff at approximately 65 mph during the departure phase. However, the airplane became airborne prematurely after covering only about 200 feet of runway. At this point, the airspeed was roughly 45 mph, which is significantly below the target rotation speed.
As the aircraft lifted off, the stall warning horn activated, indicating that the wing had exceeded its critical angle of attack. The airplane stalled immediately after leaving the ground and collided with the terrain.
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to rotate at an airspeed below the recommended minimum, resulting in a stall during takeoff.
What happened in the 24 Jun 1991 Cessna 172 accident near Payson, AZ?
A private pilot attempted takeoff but lifted off prematurely at low airspeed, triggering a stall warning. The aircraft stalled immediately and crashed into the terrain.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 24 Jun 1991 involved a Cessna 172, registration N8382B, operated by James F. Ballard, at Payson, AZ.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The pilot's decision to rotate at an airspeed below the recommended minimum, resulting in a stall during takeoff.
A SkyWalk Join't 3 paraglider crashed into the ground near Las Vizcachas, Chile, on September 1, 2024. The pilot and passenger sustained serious spinal…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2024-09-01DGAC Chile
A Cessna 172N struck electrical cables while on final approach to land at Aucó Aerodrome in Chile. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained damage…
A Bombardier DHC-8-402 suffered a tail strike during landing at Puerto Williams on September 9, 2024. All 76 occupants were unharmed, but the aircraft…
A MYD JS-MD 3 glider veered off the runway and struck a wall at Vitacura Aerodrome on January 6, 2025. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained…
A recreational paraglider flight in Puchuncaví, Chile, ended with the pilot sustaining serious injuries after a rapid descent and impact with a hillside on…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2025-03-29DGAC Chile
A Tecnam P2006T landed on its belly at an aerodrome in Poland after the crew failed to confirm landing gear deployment. The incident resulted in no injuries…