# Accident 20030717016429A: Cessna 172P, Denver, CO, July 17, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 17, 2003, 15:45 local time
- Place: Denver, CO
- Airport: Front Range Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: CJJA
- Location: 39.7836° N, 104.5350° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7836&lon=-104.5350&mi=10
- Aircraft: N98969, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N98969-2018-04-24) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172P (registry code 2072436, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,070 total, 843 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN03LA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA132) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030717016429A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON JULY 17, 2003, SUSAN BAKER, FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, WAS GIVING LANDING INSTRUCTION TO KATHLEEN EMMONS AT FRONT RANGE AIRPORT IN A CESSNA 172P (N98969). SHE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF COMPLETING THEIR 6TH TOUCH AND GO. WHILE SUSAN WAS APPLYING TAKEOFF POWER, HER SEAT RELEASED TO THE FULL REAR POSITION AND SHE LOST ALL PEDAL, YOKE AND ENGINE CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. SUSAN STATED THAT HER NORMAL SEAT POSITION WHILE FLYING A C-172 IS IN THE FULL FORWARD POSITION, THE POSITION SHE WAS IN AT THE TIME OF RELEASE. THE AIRCRAFT LEFT RUNWAY 26L HEADING WEST WITH 2-6 FEET OF ALTITUDE AND UNDER FULL POWER. THE AIRCRAFT THEN VEERED TO THE LEFT, STRIKING THE LEFT WING TIP IN THE GRASS AND CONTINUING ON ACROSS TAXIWAY 7 AND THE PARALLEL TAXIWAY. THE AIRCRAFT CROSSED THE GRASS SEPARATING THE TAXIWAY AND THE PARKING RAMP STRUCK A C-172 (N5484K) IN THE RIGHT TAIL SECTION, CAUSING SUBTANTIAL DAMAGE TO BOTH AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT POWERPLANT STOPPED UPON COLLISION AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST 35 FEET FROM IMPACT. SUSAN STATED THAT BOTH SHE AND HER STUDENT HAD ADJUSTED AND LOCKED THEIR SEATS IN THE FULL FORWARD POSITION PRIOR TO FIRST FLIGHT ENGINE START AT CENTENNIAL, WHERE THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED. AWAITING RESPONSE FROM CESSNA ENGR.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB DEN03LA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA132), Jul 17, 2003: Cessna 172P (N98969), Watkins, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: the right seat shifting aft during the take off roll, rendering aircraft control not possible by the flight instructor. Contributing factors include the inboard seat pin which did not engage fully,…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.