# NTSB CEN09LA035: Cessna 172, N64055, Broomfield, CO, October 24, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 24, 2008, 11:12 local (17:12 UTC) - Place: Broomfield, CO - Coordinates: 39.908889, -105.117225 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9089&lon=-105.1172&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: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 12, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 69353 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA035 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69353/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA035 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane, resulting in an inadvertent stall, during a landing attempt. Contributing to the accident was the gusty crosswinds. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 1,014 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 1,201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/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, 9,308 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: 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, 1,530 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 10,152 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis After making three touch-and-go landings in "choppy" weather at a nearby airport, the pilot returned to her home airport and was cleared to land on runway 29R. She thought the wind was "well within [her] ability level." On base leg, tower changed the landing runway to 29L. She thought the wind was "acceptable...even with the crosswind component," and she did not request a crosswind runway. She "crabbed" the airplane into the gusty crosswind and the airplane was blown to the left of, and "almost perpendicular to," the runway. As the airplane entered ground effect and was over the grass, the pilot added power "in an attempt to get enough altitude and speed to bring the airplane back over the runway." When the pilot realized this was futile, the pilot added full power in a go-around attempt. The airplane stalled and struck the ground. The pilot stated, "I remember trying to force the nose down and I couldn't get it down quickly enough. I got higher off the ground...I think parallel to the runway, then [the air]plane pulled to the left even with holding right rudder, tipped over left and seemed to bounce off the ground and then hit the ground facing south." The recorded wind at the airport was from 300 degrees at 12 knots. No gusts were reported. ## Factual narrative On October 24, 2008, at 1112 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N64055, registered to 3 Wire Air Services, LLC, Westminster, Colorado, and operated by Western Air Flight Academy, Broomfield, Colorado, was destroyed when it struck terrain after the pilot attempted to make a go-around at the Rocky Mountain Regional Airport (BJC), Broomfield, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot was seriously injured. The local flight originated at BJC approximately 1100. According to the pilot's accident report, she departed BJC and flew to Longmont, Colorado (LMO). She made three touch-and-go landings in "choppy" weather, then returned to BJC. Tower cleared her to land on runway 29R, and she configured the airplane for landing. She thought the wind was "well within [her] ability level." On base leg, tower changed the landing runway to 29L. She thought the wind was "acceptable...even with the crosswind component," and she did not request a crosswind runway. She "crabbed" the airplane into the gusty crosswind and the airplane was blown to the left of, "almost perpendicular to," the runway. As the airplane entered ground effect, it was over the grass and the pilot added power "in an attempt to get enough altitude and speed to bring the airplane back over the runway." When she realized this was futile, she added full power in a go-around attempt. She wrote, "I remember trying to force the nose down and I couldn't get it down quickly enough. I got higher off the ground...I think parallel to the runway, then [the air]plane pulled to the left even with holding right rudder, tipped over left and seemed to bounce off the ground and then hit the ground facing south." The wind at BJC, recorded at 1114, was from 300 degrees at 12 knots. No gusts were reported. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N64055](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N64055-2013-07-01), registration cancelled 2013-07-01, S/N 17275511, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (P) - 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: 17275511 - Airframe hours: 4699 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Western Air Flight Academy - Registered owner: 3 Wire Air Services, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 25, 2008 - Departed: LMO, Longmont, CO - Destination: BJC, Broomfield, CO - Airport: BJC, Rocky Mountain Metropolitan, runway 29L, 7,004 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 26, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 195 total, 195 in this make and model, 66 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 12 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: BJC ## 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 20081024850189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081024850189A), Oct 24, 2008: Cessna 172P, Denver, CO, Destroyed. (-23) On 24 October 2008 at approximately 10:12, N64055, a Cessna 172P crashed on final to runway 29L at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (bjc), broomfield… 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.