Cessna 172L accident near Mccomb, Mississippi, August 30, 2013
On August 30, 2013 at about 5:30 pm local time, a 1970 Cessna 172L, registered N7892G, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Mccomb, Mississippi (Mc Comb/Pike County/John E Lew airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during approach to landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent loss of control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 30, 2013 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Mccomb, Mississippi · Mc Comb/Pike County/John E Lew · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172L, built 1970 · all 172Ls on the register
- Registration
- N7892G · no longer on the register · serial 17259592
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was performing a solo cross country flight, and following a successful landing and departure from the first destination airport, approached the second destination airport. The final approach to the runway appeared normal until reaching the runway threshold and the stall warning horn sounded. Beyond that point the pilot could not recall what happened next. The pilot’s next recollection was of the airplane approaching a small rise off the left side of the runway. The airplane subsequently impacted the ground, which “knocked [the pilot] out.” An examination of the airplane following the accident revealed substantial damage to both wings and the firewall. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 44 hours in all; 41 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,416 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 14, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Flightline Leasing INC
The flight
- Departed from: LFT Lafayette LA at 4:30 pm
- Destination: MCB Mccomb MS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,800 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KMCB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.