NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On June 22, 2008, about 1710 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172S, N2436F, impacted the ocean about 2.5 miles west of Oceanside, California. San Diego Flight Training International, Inc., operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 as a personal rental flight. The pilot and one passenger are presumed to have been killed; another passenger sustained serious injuries, and was rescued by nearby boaters. The airplane has not been located and is presumed destroyed. The flight departed Long Beach Airport (Daugherty Field - LGB), Long Beach, California, with a planned destination of Montgomery Field (MYF), San Diego, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and no flight plan had been filed.

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) conducted a search for the missing pilot, passenger, and the airplane. USCG personnel responded to the latitude/longitude coordinates provided by the airborne witnesses. No debris field was present. A search was conducted; however, the USCG suspended their search efforts. A research ship, the Outer Limits, and its crew volunteered to search the last identified area of the accident location for the airplane and its missing crew. Their attempt, along with the USCG, was unsuccessful.

WITNESS INFORMATION

Two airborne witnesses were in contact with the accident pilot and observed the accident. According to both witnesses, they had flown from MYF to LGB earlier in the day. As they were having a snack, they discussed the flight back, where the accident pilot reported that he was going to perform a stall/spin on the return flight to MYF. He also indicated that he had done a stall/spin maneuver before with his flight instructor and a passenger in the back.

After takeoff from LGB, both airplanes climbed to 5,500 feet for the flight back to MYF. About 5 nautical miles (nm) south of Dana Point, the witnesses reported that the accident airplane climbed from 5,500 feet to 7,500 feet to set up for a stall/spin maneuver. They watched as the airplane performed one complete spin and then recovered to normal flight. The witnesses then saw them set up for another spin, enter the spin, and watched as the airplane continued to spin until it crashed into the ocean. During the maneuvers, the accident pilot was in contact with the other airplane. After the first spin, the accident pilot stated that he was going to "do it one more time," and he was going to let it spin a "little more before he start[ed] the recovery." The witnesses reported that the duration between the first stall/spin maneuver and the accident stall/spin maneuver was about 5 minutes.

After the airplane crashed into the ocean, the airborne witnesses contacted southern California (SoCal) approach control and reported the downed airplane. They circled the area providing a location to SoCal approach, and then returned to MYF. They were not able to see the airplane in the water due to a low cloud layer between their airplane and the water.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

A review of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airman and medical records on file in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, revealed that the 19-year-old pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single engine land rating. His certificate was issued on June 19, 2008. On his Airman Certificate and/or Rating Application, FAA form 8710-1, dated June 18, 2008, he reported his total flight time as 70 hours. According to the Pilot/Operator Report (NTSB Form 6120) filed by the Operator, the pilot had an additional 2 hours of flight time for a total flight time of 72 hours.

The pilot had been issued a first-class medical on January 30, 2008, with the limitation that he must wear corrective lenses. No personal flight records were recovered for the pilot.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The airplane was a 2006 Cessna 172S, serial number 172S10145, with a Lycoming IO-360-L2A, serial number L-32653-51E installed. According to the operator, the last 100-hour inspection was signed off on June 16, 2008. The total airframe time recorded at the last 100-hour inspection was 1,009 hours.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

According to the Cessna Information Manual for the 172S NAV III Skyhawk, the accident airplane, under section 4 titled NORMAL PROCEDURES subsection titled SPINS; intentional spins are approved when the airplane is operated in the utility category. Spins are not approved when the rear seat(s) are occupied. It also states that spins will progress at a fairly rapid rate of rotation and steep attitude if they are in excess of 2 rotations. During extended spins, the spin tends to change into a spiral, particularly to the right, which will be accompanied by an increase in airspeed and gravity loads on the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause

Failure of the pilot to regain airplane control during an intentional stall/spin maneuver.