Cessna 172M N20587

Summary

On 25 October 2013 at about 16:45 local time, a Cessna 172M registered N20587, operated by Hernandez Cesar, was involved in an accident near Raymondville, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 October 2013 at 16:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Raymondville, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Bell Airfield (XS56)

Coordinates

26.4814, -97.7831

Aircraft

Cessna 172M

Registration

N20587

Category

Airplane

Year built

1973

Engines

1

Operator

Hernandez Cesar

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Rio Grande City → Raymondville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN14CA027

1 person was seriously injured.

The operation of an airplane by a non-certificated pilot. Contributing to the accident was his failure to maintain airspeed following a total loss of engine power at low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Also contributing was the pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The non-certificated pilot said he flew his unregistered airplane for about 2 hours "recreationally" before attempting to land at a privately owned airport, where he said the airplane was scheduled to have an annual inspection completed. The pilot said a gust of wind blew the airplane off course while on final approach and he attempted to go-around. The airplane then stalled and impacted a field short of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the firewall and empennage. Though the pilot did not report an engine failure, examination of the airplane revealed both fuel tanks were empty and damage to the propeller was consistent with it not turning at the time of impact. The pilot reported there were no mechanical deficiencies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane and engine. The pilot did not have a valid Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) medical and had a reported history of a stroke. The pilot's daughter also reported that her father was starting to show symptoms of Sundowner's Syndrome.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.