# NTSB CEN12LA171: Cessna R172E, N3196F, Denver, CO, February 27, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 27, 2012, 10:52 local (17:52 UTC) - Place: Denver, CO - Coordinates: 39.785278, -104.543052 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7853&lon=-104.5431&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-to runway: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report August 13, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 82983 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA171 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82983/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82983 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA171 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper decision to taxi in wind conditions that exceeded the airplane’s capability. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna R172E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072413), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: maximum crosswind component](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061015): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna R172E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061015/cases.md?model=2072413), [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061015/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Cessna R172E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072413), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-to runway: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna R172E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072413), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Taxi-to runway: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna R172E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072413), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Taxi-to runway: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna R172E, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072413), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was taxiing for takeoff in wind that greatly exceeded the airplane manufacturer's maximum demonstrated crosswind component and the airplane operator's wind limits. During the taxi, which was along a taxiway that was subject to an almost direct crosswind, the wind lifted the airplane’s tail upward, and the airplane nosed over. ## Factual narrative On February 27, 2012, about 1052 mountain standard time, a Cessna R172E, N3196F, nosed over during taxi to runway 17 for takeoff at Front Range Airport (FTG), near Denver, Colorado. The private pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wing and vertical stabilizer. The airplane was registered to the United States Air Force (USAF) and was operated by the USAF Peterson Aero Club under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a business flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan had been filed for the flight destined to City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (COS), Colorado Springs, Colorado. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that he filed a flight plan and dispatched the airplane as he had done in the past. The flight from COS to FTG was "uneventful." When landing at FTG, he noticed that the wind began to gust. He taxied to the ramp where the engine was shutdown and the airplane was tied down. About 1035, he checked the winds and noticed that the winds were from a southerly direction and runway 17 was in use. The pilot stated that the FTG Automatic Terminal Information Service reported winds as 160 degrees at 27 knots gusting 38 knots. During the taxi on taxiway A (taxiway A was an east taxiway) to runway 17, the airplane tail lifted upward, and the airplane nosed over. The winds at FTG were recorded at 1043 as: 170 degrees at 30 knots gusting 43 knots. According to the Rocky Mountain USAF Flight Training Center Standard Operating Procedure, Section V. Wind Operating Limits, the maximum crosswind for pilot with less than 200 hours of flight time is 10 knots and for those with more than 200 hours, the maximum crosswind was the flight manual demonstrated crosswind component. The R172E manual says, “The maximum allowable crosswind velocity is dependent upon pilot capability rather than airplane limitations. However, with average pilot technique, direct crosswinds of 15 knots can be handled safety." The pilot reported a total flight time of 1,400 hours, of which 100 hours were in single-engine airplanes, and 50 hours were in the make and model of the accident airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3196F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3196F-2014-07-02), registration cancelled 2014-07-02, S/N 1720218, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA R172E - Registry model: [Cessna R172E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r172e) (registry code 2072413) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1720218 - Airframe hours: 15490 - Engines: Teledyne Continental IO-360-DB reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: United States Air Force Peterson Aero Club - Registered owner: United States Air Force - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 10, 2012 - Departed: FTG, Denver, CO - Destination: COS, Colorado Spring, CO - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: FTG, Front Range Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: minor; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 5, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 1,400 total, 50 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 30 knots, gusting 43 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 9 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: FTG ## 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 20120227002119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120227002119A), Feb 27, 2012: Cessna R172E, Watkins, CO, Substantial damage. On 2/27/2012 at appx 1152 local at kftg airport, on taxiway a at A7, a Cessna 172E, N3196F, sustained substantial damage when it became inverted, and came to… ## Other investigations on N3196F (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 DEN93LA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN93LA018), Dec 27, 1992: Cessna 172E (N3196F), Ramah, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE NUMBER ONE CONNECTING ROD. A FACTOR WAS: A FORCED LANDING ONTO UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 11, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82983. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40385977&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Excerpt Page from Rocky Mountain USAF Flight Training Center SOP (item 2, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40385979&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpt%20Page%20from%20Rocky%20Mountain%20USAF%20Flight%20Training%20Center%20SOP-Redacted.PDF - Flight Plan (item 3, .PDF, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40386033&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Plan-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records - FTG Metars (item 4, .PDF, 402 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40385982&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records%20-%20FTG%20Metars-Master.PDF - Airport Diagram - FTG (item 5, .PDF, 41 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40385984&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Diagram%20-%20FTG-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.