Cessna 172M accident near New Smyrna Bch, Florida, December 19, 2001
On December 19, 2001, a Cessna 172M, registered N9882V, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Smyrna Bch, Florida (New Smyrna Beach Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the pilot to maintain airspeed, during initial climb out, which resulted in an inadvertent stall, and subsequent impact with the terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 19, 2001
- Place
- New Smyrna Bch, Florida · New Smyrna Beach Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N9882V · no longer on the register · serial 17264545
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses heard the airplane in the traffic pattern, and heard power being applied to the engine. The witnesses reported hearing engine sounds until just prior to impact. The airplane impacted nose first near a taxiway between runways. The pilot, stated he thought he was around 150' to 200' above ground level, when the aircraft started to shake. He didn't think there was anything wrong with the aircraft prior to impact. The pilot did not recall hearing the stall warning horn. The female passenger told rescue personnel they had just gotten off the ground when the plane started to shake. Only slight ground scaring that was consistent with the wing tips, were found near the initial impact point. In addition, the tail surfaces were not damaged, fuel was present in the left wing, the right wing fuel tank was ruptured, and the fuel selector was found in the "BOTH" position. The engine was disassembly and revealed no discrepancies. Control system continuity was established, and the flap motor indicated that the flaps were in the full up position. The stall warning horn was found operable. The pilot had a total of 200 flight hours, of which 100 were in this make and model airplane, and about 3 hours of night flight hours.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 200 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: May 29, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,259 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 14, 2001; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,220 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Phil Air Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: DAB Daytona Beach FL
- Destination: EVB New Smyrna Beac FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 4,299 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from DAB, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.