Cessna 172 N13520 accident near New Washington, Indiana

Probable cause

A high velocity descent and impact with terrain for undetermined reasons.

NTSB analysis

The student pilot was to conduct a solo practice flight in preparation for his private pilot check ride. The flight was to include maneuvers in a specific practice area. The pilot’s flight instructor stated that he tracked the airplane on his phone and the flight track disappeared about 20 minutes into the flight. The recorded automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast data revealed that the airplane departed and climbed to about 3,000 ft above ground level. While in the practice area, the airplane completed 3 consecutive left steep turn maneuvers towards the northeast and remained about 3,000 ft agl. Less than 1 minute later the airplane descended and proceeded southeast; this flight track continued into a steep dive in excess of 10,000 ft per minute and a calculated groundspeed of about 170 kts.

The airplane wreckage was located in a field; the debris path was oriented southeast and extended about 300 yards. All major components of the airplane were located at the accident site and there was no post impact fire. Postaccident examinations revealed findings indicative of the engine operating at the time of the accident, which were also consistent with the high velocity descent. There were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies found with the engine or airframe that would have precluded normal operation. No medical findings were identified in the pilot’s autopsy or toxicology.

The accident is consistent with a wings-level, high velocity descent and impact with terrain for reasons that could not be determined with the available information.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN20LA214 for the full record.