Cessna 172P accident near Fernandina, Florida, May 14, 1994
On May 14, 1994 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N99998, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fernandina, Florida (Fernandina Beach Municipa 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 IN COMMAND'S IMPROPER USE OF FLIGHT CONTROLS AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AND UNCONTROLLED DESCENT TO GROUND IMPACT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 14, 1994 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fernandina, Florida · Fernandina Beach Municipa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N99998 · no longer on the register · serial 17276536
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student-rated pilot stated that while on final approach with 20 degrees of flaps and an airspeed of 65 knots, the left wing dropped to a 20-degree left bank angle. He applied left rudder and right aileron to correct the bank. This had no effect so he initiated a go-around. After removing carburetor heat and applying power the aircraft's nose pitched up and the left wing dropped to a 30-degree bank angle. The stall warning horn then activated and the aircraft's nosed dropped. The aircraft descended and impacted the ground. The pilot reported he had no mechanical difficulties with the aircraft.
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: student
- Flight time: 48 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,622 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 18, 1994; 76 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 5,350 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from JAX, 15 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.