Cessna 172 Safety Record

Flight at an altitude insufficient to clear terrain. Factors were the pilot's failure to reset or correct a precessing directional gyro, his becoming lost/disoriented, and dark night light conditions.

The proper touchdown point was not attained and the visual lookout not being maintained by the pilot-in-command. Contributing factors to the accident were the unmarked static and transmission wires.

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft. Related factors were the student pilot's lack of total experience, and airport signs in the accident area.

Inadequate visual lookout by the pilot, which resulted in his failure to see and avoid the fuel truck. Related factors were the truck and the pilot was unfamiliar with that area.

The pilot's inadequate preflight planning or preparation from unsuitable terrain. Factors include an embedded railroad tie in the takeoff path, and high vegetation..

The #3 cylinder exhaust valve rocker arm fulcrum retaining stud backing out of its stud-tapped hole due to the improper tapping of the stud hole by unknown maintenance personnel. Contributing factors were the transmission wire, sign and gasoline pump.

The pilot's inadequate evaluation of the weather which resulted in an encounter with a microburst. Contributing was the airplane's climb capability exceeded by the microburst, and rising terrain.

was a delayed go-around maneuver by the pilot. Factors associated with this accident were the pilot misjudging his final approach altitude and glide path, having inadequate altitude to clear the trees at the end of the runway, and inadequate training on how to fly a final approach and make a landing on the first quarter of the runway.

the lack of effective braking due to hydroplaning. Contributing factors to the accident were the trees off the end of the runway that made a go-around not possible and the ditch off the end of the runway.

Oil system contamination with an unidentified metal substance that traveled through the oil system and blocked the number 4 main bearing and number 6 connecting rod bearing oil ports, resulting in oil starvation and failure of the engine. The source of the contamination is undetermined.

the pilot's misjudgment of distance and speed during the approach/landing, and his delay in initiating a go-around. The quartering tailwind was a related factor.

The student pilot's attempted VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions, resulting in a subsequent in-flight collision with trees and terrain. Contributing factors were, haze/smoke, the student pilot's failure to obtain a preflight weather briefing, the student pilot's lack of total experience in type operation, and trees.

The pilot's failure to obtain a weather briefing which resulted in inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological conditions, and his failure to maintain control of the airplane due to spatial disorientation. Factors in this accident were low ceilings and fog.

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft due to spatial disorientation. Contributing factors wer fog, dark night conditions, lack of recent experience, inadequate preflight planning, and flight into known adverse weather.