Cessna Safety Record

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO PERFORM LOW ALTITUDE MANEUVERS, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF AIRPLANE CONTROL AND COLLISION WITH TREES. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE OSTENTATIOUS DISPLAY BY THE PILOT, AND HIS LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.

THE OWNER/PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT IN ATTEMPTING AN OPERATION BEYOND HIS EXPERIENCE AND ABILITY, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN AN ADEQUATE CLIMB PROFILE NECESSARY FOR TERRAIN CLEARANCE. ALSO, THE OWNER/PILOT LACKED INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE, AND WAS OVERCONFIDENT IN HIS ABILITY. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE HILLY TERRAIN AND WEATHER CONDITIONS.

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO FOLLOW THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURE (ENGINE FAILURE AFTER TAKEOFF) AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN MINIMUM CONTROL SPEED (VMC), WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE FAILURE (DISENGAGEMENT) OF THE RIGHT ENGINE FUEL PUMP DRIVE COUPLING, HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, AND THE LACK OF COMPANY TRAINING CONCERNING AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE IN CONDITIONS OF HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND HEAVY GROSS WEIGHT.

IMPROPER MAINTENANCE OF THE FUEL SYSTEM BY THE PILOT/MECHANIC RESULTING IN AN ENGINE FAILURE ON TAKEOFF OVER TERRAIN UNSUITABLE FOR A FORCED LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISION TO TURN BACK TO THE RUNWAY, AND SUBSEQUENT INADVERTENT STALL.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY JUDGE AND EVALUATE THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND HIS IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISION TO FLY CLOSE TO CLOUDS. THESE ACTS LED TO HIS ENTERING IMC AND BECOMING LOST AND DISORIENTED.

IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (PIC/CFI) IN THE CESSNA 172, HIS MISJUDGEMENT OF DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TWO AIRPLANES, AND INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY BOTH PILOTS IN THE CESSNA 172.

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO FOLLOW PROPER PROCEDURES WHILE OPERATING THE AIRCRAFT IN WEATHER CONDITIONS FAVORABLE TO CARBURETOR ICING. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE WEATHER CONDITION, WHICH WAS FAVORABLE FOR THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE.

THE PILOT BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED, FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE COURSE IN A BOX CANYON, AND THE AIRCRAFT STALLED. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE NARROW BOX CANYON, THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, AND THE LACK OF MOUNTAIN FLYING EXPERIENCE BY THE PIC.

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AS A RESULT OF SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. THE LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT TIME, AND RAIN IN THE ACCIDENT AREA WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.

A FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO CONDUCT AN ADEQUATE PRE-FLIGHT INSPECTION TO REMOVE CONTAMINATED FUEL; A FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED TO PREVENT AN INADVERTENT STALL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS AN INADEQUATE ANNUAL INSPECTION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM TO DETECT A LEAKING FUEL CAP, AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE FLIGHT BY THE PILOT-INCOMMAND.

THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INADVERTENTLY ALLOWING THE AIRCRAFT TO ENTER INTO A STALL/SPIN. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: TERRAIN CONDITION, RISING TERRAIN, AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM OBJECTS (TREES), AND HIS INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT. A FACTOR WAS THE TREES LOCATED IN THE PRACTICE AREA.

THAT THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND USED POOR JUDGMENT BY FLYING AT AN UNWARRANTED LOW ALTITUDE AND MISJUDGED THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE TREE TOPS AND THE AIRPLANE.