# NTSB CEN12CA200: Cessna 172P, N97LP, Colorado Springs, CO, March 24, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 24, 2012, 13:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Colorado Springs, CO - Coordinates: 38.968334, -104.807777 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9683&lon=-104.8078&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Denver FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83216 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA200 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83216/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83216 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA200 ## Probable cause The pilot did not maintain control of the airplane during takeoff, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent nose over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N97LP-2013-02-05), registration cancelled 2013-02-05, S/N 17274398, 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: 17274398 - Airframe hours: 1257 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: minor; 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 ## 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 20120324005129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120324005129A), Mar 24, 2012: Cessna 172P, United States A, CO, Destroyed. On departure from runway 34R with a reported crosswind, the pilot could not maintain flight after takeoff rotation. Pilot attempted to gain more airspeed with… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 23, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83216. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365505&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.