Cessna 172M C-GTKX

Summary

On 15 August 2004 at about 17:40 local time, a Cessna 172M registered C-GTKX was involved in an accident near Yuba City, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 August 2004 at 17:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Yuba City, California, United States

Nearest airport

Sutter County Airport (O52)

Coordinates

39.0911, -121.6186

Aircraft

Cessna 172M

Registration

C-GTKX

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Yuba City → Napa

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX04FA291

1 person died.

the pilot's failure to attain and maintain an adequate airspeed, which resulted in a stall.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane collided with a sign, then stalled and impacted terrain while attempting a takeoff from a residential street. The street was about 2,000 feet in total length with a cul-de-sac on each end. Radar data showed that the airplane flew parallel to an airport runway about a mile to the west and then made a 630-degree turn (1 3/4 turns) over the accident area. The airplane landed toward the south on the road located in a housing development that was under construction and taxied back to the the north until it reached a parked semi truck that was about 1,300 feet from the south end of the road. The airplane then turned around facing the south. Witnesses said the the airplane momentarily stopped, with the engine revving, then it began to roll down the road and subsequently became airborne. During the initial climb, the airplane's left wing impacted a sign, and as it approached a power line pole, the nose pitched up. About 40 to 60 feet above ground level the airplane stalled and nose-dived toward the terrain. There was no evidence of premishap mechanical malfunctions observed during the examination of the engine and airframe. According to friends of the pilot, he could not hear the stall warning horn due to a hearing impairment condition.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.