Cessna 172K accident near Knoxville, Tennessee, October 9, 2004
On October 9, 2004 at about 12:59 pm local time, a Cessna 172K, registered N78211, was involved in an accident near Knoxville, Tennessee (Sky Ranch Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed on initial take off climb resulted in an inadvertent stall and an uncontrolled descent into the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 9, 2004 · about 12:59 pm local time
- Place
- Knoxville, Tennessee · Sky Ranch Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N78211 · no longer on the register · serial 17257528
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot stated he was on initial take off climb and the airplane wanted to turn to the left. He put in a correction and the airplane started another turn to the left. He thought the airplane might collide with a hangar off the left side of the runway so he lowered the nose and applied aft pressure on the control yoke. The student pilot stated, "he could not remember anything after applying the rear pressure on the control yoke." When asked if he experienced any mechanical problems with the airplane or his seat, he stated no. A witness stated he observed an airplane on take off from the airport. The airplane was about 200 feet in a climb attitude. He estimated the nose of the airplane to be in a 30-degree nose high attitude and the airspeed was described as slow. The airplane made a hard turn to the left and the nose of the airplane pitched down. Examination of the airplane revealed the left wing tip was missing and the wing was bent up and aft. The upper and lower left wing skins were twisted and compressed, and the left inboard flap was wedged into the left side of the fuselage. The right wing was accelerated forward and the right wing tip was bent upward. The right flap was damaged and had collided with a hangar post. The flight controls were connected and continuity was confirmed between the flight controls and control surfaces. The engine and propeller assembly remained attached to the airframe and no anomalies were noted. The Cessna 172 Owner's Manual states at 2,300 pounds gross weight with the flaps at 10-degrees and a 20-degree angle of bank the airplane will stall at 54 calibrated airspeed (CAS.) With a 40-degree bank the airplane will stall at 59 CAS and with a 60-degree bank the airplane will stall at 74 CAS.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 53 hours in all; 50 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,569 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 4, 2003; 163 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TN98 Knoxville TN at 12:58 pm
- Destination: TN98 Knoxville TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 1,700 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,800 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from TYS, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.