Cessna 172N accident near Page, Arizona, June 8, 2014
On June 8, 2014, a 1978 Cessna 172N, registered N5589E, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Page, Arizona (Page Muni airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper landing flare in gusting wind conditions, his inadequate recovery from the subsequent bounced landing, and his decision to perform a go-around with insufficient airspeed to climb.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 2014
- Place
- Page, Arizona · Page Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N N, built 1978 · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N5589E · no longer on the register · serial 17271894
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, while landing the airplane in gusting wind conditions, he approached the runway at 60 knots and that, when he flared the airplane, it started to drift to the side of the runway. When the main landing gear touched down, a gust of wind lifted the airplane off the runway. The airplane touched down again and then bounced too high to continue the landing. The pilot subsequently initiated a go-around; the airplane was at full power with an airspeed of less than 43 knots. He did not raise the flaps because he was afraid the airplane would descend. The airplane started a slow descent, and the stall warning horn sounded. The airplane subsequently struck a small tree and then the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The wind at the airport was from 190 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 23 knots at the time of the accident. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with 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
- Other weather encounter during approach (VFR go-around)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 712 hours in all; 143 in this make and model; 143 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 657 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,392 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 25, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 2,299 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 2,507 hours total
- Operator: American Aviation INC
The flight
- Departed from: PGA Page AZ
- Destination: PGA Page AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 2,201 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 13 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from KPGA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.