# NTSB CEN09CA459: Cessna 172P, N52298, Usafa, CO, June 27, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 27, 2009, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Usafa, CO - Coordinates: 38.969722, -104.812774 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9697&lon=-104.8128&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 74352 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA459 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74352/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74352 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA459 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain a safe flying airspeed resulting in an inadvertent stall during the go-around. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Stall warn/stick-shaker/pusher](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/430); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/430/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/430/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane was landing at the destination airport in gusty wind conditions. The commercial pilot reported that the wind was aligned predominately down the runway with gusts approximately 10 knots above the steady state winds. When in the flare to land, the airplane would not settle to the runway normally. The pilot held the landing attitude and waited for the airplane to touch down. When the airplane floated past the pilot's planned touchdown zone, the pilot initiated a go-around. When the pilot selected full throttle and set a pitch attitude for the climb out, the airplane's stall warning horn came on. The pilot lowered the pitch and retracted wing flaps from 40 degrees to approximately 20 degrees. The airplane stalled, and the left wing and propeller contacted the runway. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and came to rest in an upright position. An examination of the airplane following the accident revealed that the left wing near the wing tip was bent upward and the firewall was buckled. ## Factual narrative The airplane was landing at the destination airport in gusty wind conditions. The commercial pilot reported that wind was aligned predominately down the runway with gusts approximately 10 knots above the steady state winds. When in the flare to land, the airplane would not settle to the runway normally. The pilot held the landing attitude and waited for the airplane to touch down. When the airplane floated past the pilot's planned touchdown zone, the pilot initiated a go-around. When the pilot selected full throttle and set a pitch attitude for the climb out, the airplane's stall warning horn came on. The pilot lowered the pitch and retracted wing flaps from 40 degrees to approximately 20 degrees. The airplane stalled, and the left wing and propeller contacted the runway. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and came to rest in an upright position. An examination of the airplane following the accident revealed that the left wing near the wing tip was bent upward and the firewall was buckled. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N52298](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N52298-2012-02-06), registration cancelled 2012-02-06, S/N 17274489, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17274489 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: USAFA Aero Club - Registered owner: Nielsen Martin L - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: USAFA, CO - Destination: USAFA, CO - Airport: KAFF, USAF Academy Airfield, runway 16L, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; commercial, military; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 26, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 2,519 total, 3 in this make and model, 1,389 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 5 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 50 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20090627013189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090627013189A), Jun 27, 2009: Cessna 172P, Colorado Sprin, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) On June 27, 2009 at 11:30 MDT aircraft N52298, a Cessna 172P serial number 17274489 crashed while initiating a go-around after an aborted landing.… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 7, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74352. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 577 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316938&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo: Airplane overview (item 2, .PDF, 573 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316941&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%3A%20Airplane%20overview-Master.PDF 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. --- 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.