Cessna 172N N733AS

Summary

On 21 June 2010 at about 16:10 local time, a Cessna 172N registered N733AS, operated by Charles K Swanson, was involved in an accident near Angels Camp, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 June 2010 at 16:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Angels Camp, California, United States

Nearest airport

Modesto City-Co Airport Harry (MOD)

Coordinates

38.0486, -120.6556

Aircraft

Cessna 172N

Registration

N733AS

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Charles K Swanson

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Modesto → Modesto

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

WPR10LA307

1 person died.

The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control while maneuvering.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses observed the airplane flying low over the area and performing loops and steep turns before it dropped out of their view behind a mountain. They heard a loud bang, the sound of metal crumpling, and then the airplane’s engine noise stopped. The witnesses estimated that the airplane was flying in the area for at least 20 minutes before the accident. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the pilot failed to maintain airplane control while performing the loops and steep turns.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.