# Accident 20180816014299A: Cessna R172E, Colorado Spring, CO, August 16, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 16, 2018, 11:15 local time
- Place: Colorado Spring, CO
- Airport: Usaf Academy Afld
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.9733° N, 104.8200° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9733&lon=-104.8200&mi=10
- Aircraft: N146AC, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N146AC) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna R172E (registry code 2072413, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r172e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-360 series (registry code 17025, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA R172E
- Reported engine: CONTINENTAL MOTOR IO-360
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 17,631 total, 20 in this make and model, 68 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN18LA335](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA335) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180816014299A

## Narrative

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

PILOT STATED THAT THE PREFLIGHT AND ENGINE RUNUP WAS NORMAL.  AT 1100 MOUNTAIN DAYLIGHT TIME (MDT) THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF FROM RWY 34R. THE TAKEOFF ROLL WAS NORMAL WITH THE AIRPLANE PRODUCING 2800 RPM AND 14 GAL/HR FUEL FLOW. THE ROTATION WAS EXECUTED AT 60 MPH. THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED OUT OF GROUND EFFECT TO ABOUT 100 FEET, AT THAT POINT THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT CLIMB AND THE AIRSPEED STARTED TO DECREASE.  THE PILOT STATED THAT THE FUEL FLOW AND RPM STILL INDICATED NORMAL.  THE PILOT LOWERED THE FLAPS TO 10 DEGREES AND LOWERED THE NOSE TO MAINTAIN 55-60 MPH.  THE AIRPLANE LANDED 2500 FEET NORTH OF THE RUNWAY.  THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN WITH THE RIGHT MAIN FIRST, THEN THE NOSE WHEEL.  THE SOFT AND UNEVEN GROUND CAUSED THE NOSE WHEEL TO SHEAR OFF AND THE AIRPLANE TO FLIP OVER.  THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST UPSIDE DOWN. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER EXITED THE AIRPLANE WITHOUT INJURY.

## 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 CEN18LA335](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA335), Aug 16, 2018: Cessna R172E (N146AC), Colorado Springs, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The airplane’s failure to maintain a climb after takeoff, which resulted in a forced landing on unsuitable terrain; the reason for the airplane’s failure to climb could not be determined based on the…

## Other reports on N146AC (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19920518017279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920518017279A), May 18, 1992: Cessna R172E (N146AC), Ellicott, CO, Substantial damage. Made low pass over a road to assess possible landing area. Left gear hit fence post. Returned base. Fuselage damage

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.