- Date
- March 24, 2012, 13:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N97LPCessna 172P
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 21, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA Denver FSDO
- FAA report
- 20120324005129A
- Case key
- 83216
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot did not maintain control of the airplane during takeoff, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent nose over.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he rotated the airplane at 55 knots and that it immediately started to drift. He heard the stall warning horn so he lowered the nose. The airplane subsequently impacted the ground, and the pilot pulled the throttle to idle. The airplane was approaching the crossing runway, and there was a hump or ditch near the runway edge. The pilot pulled back on the controls to avoid the obstacle, and the airplane became airborne and climbed to about 10 to 15 feet above the ground. The airplane then landed hard and bounced. The nose landing gear impacted the dirt and the airplane nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wind during takeoff was “slightly from the right” at 9 knots gusting to 13 knots.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he rotated the airplane at 55 knots and it immediately started to drift. He heard the stall warning horn so he lowered the nose, and the airplane subsequently impacted the ground. He pulled the throttle to idle. The airplane was approaching the crossing runway and there was a hump or ditch near the runway edge. He pulled back on the controls to avoid the obstacle, and the airplane became airborne and climbed to about 10 to 15 feet above the ground. The airplane landed hard and bounced. The nose landing gear caught in the dirt and the airplane nosed over which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure of the airplane. The pilot reported that the wind during takeoff was “slightly from the right” at 9 knots gusting to 13 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N97LP
- Reported as
- Cessna 172P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17274398
- Airframe hours
- 1,257
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A4M, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- United States Air Force Aero Club
- Registered owner
- United States Air Force Aero Club
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 13, 2012
- Departed
- AFF · Colorado Springs, CO
- Destination
- AFF · Colorado Springs, CO
- Airport
- AFF · US Air Force Academy Airfield, runway 34R, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 48
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 60 total · 59 in this make and model · 13 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 340° at 9 knots, gusting 13
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.06 inHg
- Observed at
- AFF
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 23, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.0 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.