Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary ATL90LA012

KNIGHTDALE, NC, USA

Aircraft #1

N737QG

CESSNA 172N

Analysis

FLT EXPERIENCED ALTERNATOR FAILURE. PLT ELECTED TO CONT FLT TO DESTINATION. ABOUT 20 MINUTES FROM DESTINATION, FLT LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER. WHILE MAKING NIGHT VISUAL APPROACH WITH PASSENGER HOLDING FLASHLIGHT ON INSTRUMENT PANEL, PLT ALLOWED AIRPLANE TO DESCEND TOO LOW RESULTING IN COLLISION WITH TREE TOPS. PLT THEN ATTEMPTED GO- AROUND EVEN THOUGH PILOT RATED PASSENGER STATED RUNWAY WAS MADE AFTER COLLISION. WHEN ACFT WOULD NOT CLIMB DURING GO-AROUND, IT COLLIDED WITH TREES AND CAME TO REST. ALTERNATOR FAILURE WAS RESULT OF BRUSH SLIP RING BEING DAMAGED AT OVERHAUL RESULTING IN PREMATURE WEARING OF BRUSHES. ALTERNATOR HAD 57 HOURS SINCE OVERHAUL.

Probable Cause and Findings

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER GLIDE PATH TO THE RUNWAY RESULTING IN THE AIRPLANE COLLIDING WITH TREES WHILE MAKING AN APPROACH TO LANDING WITH NO ELECTRICAL POWER.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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