# Accident 20230201000719A: Cessna 172S, Limon, CO, February 1, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 1, 2023, 16:45 local time
- Place: Limon, CO
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.2692° N, 103.6643° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2692&lon=-103.6643&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5163H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5163H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172S (registry code 2072439, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (registry code 41597, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 99 total, 99 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN23LA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA102) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230201000719A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) WAS A STUDENT PILOT FINISHING UP THE LAST OF HIS SOLO FLIGHT REQUIRED FOR HIS PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE. WINDS AT LIC WERE REPORTED AS 330 AT THREE KNOTS. THE PIC STATED THAT THE FLIGHT WAS NORMAL UNTIL HE LANDED ON RUNWAY 34 AT LIC. HE STATED THAT WHILE PUTTING POWER IN FOR THE TAKE OFF AND RETRACTING THE FLAPS THE PLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT AND HIT A SNOWBANK. HE STATED THAT WAS HIS ENTIRE MEMORY OF THE EVENT. THE IIC ARRIVED ON SCENE AND PERFORMED A SITE INSPECTION. THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND UPSIDE DOWN ON THE LEFT SIDE OF RUNWAY 34. THE RIGHT WING STRUT WAS BROKEN AND THE LEFT WING TIP WAS DESTROYED. THE PROPELLER WAS BENT AND THE PROPELLER SPINNER WAS IMBEDDED IN THE GROUND SIX FEET FROM THE FINAL RESTING SPOT OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE VERTICAL FIN WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED BY THE IMPACT AND THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS BROKEN. THIRTY FEET FROM THE WRECKAGE IN A LINE FROM THE CENTERLINE OF THE RUNWAY, MARKS IN THE SNOW FROM THE LEFT MAIN TIRE AND TAIL OF THE AIRCRAFT STARTED. AIRCRAFT CONTROL CONTINUITY WAS CONFIRMED ON THE AILERONS, ELEVATORS AND RUDDER. FULL TRAVEL OF BOTH RUDDER PEDALS PRODUCED NO BINDING OR NOTED ISSUES. BOTH BRAKES WERE TESTED AND OPERATED NORMALLY. NO MACHINAL INDICATIONS OF ISSUES WERE PRESENT. LOGBOOKS FOR THE AIRCRAFT WERE REVIEWED WITH NO DEFECTS NOTED. THE STUDENT PILOT'S LOGBOOK WAS REVIEWED AND DETERMINED THAT HE WAS LEGAL TO CONDUCT THE FLIGHT.

## 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 CEN23LA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA102), Feb 1, 2023: Cessna 172S (N5163H), Limon, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll.

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.

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