# NTSB CEN18CA323: Cessna 172, N20JA, Greeley, CO, August 9, 2018

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 8, 2018, 20:00 local (Aug 9, 2018, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Greeley, CO
- Coordinates: 40.428611, -104.631942 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4286&lon=-104.6319&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 98025
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18CA323
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98025/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98025
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18CA323

## Probable cause

The pilot’s and safety pilot's conflicting control inputs during landing, which resulted in their failure to maintain a proper airspeed and resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the lack of communication between the pilot and safety pilot during the landing and go-around.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Communication (personnel): lack of communication](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510/cases.md)
- [Communication (personnel): lack of communication](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Other (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)
- [Communication (personnel): lack of communication](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Other (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Approach: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR go-around: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot and a safety pilot were practicing instrument maneuvers, approaches, and landings at different airports during the flight. The airplane entered the traffic pattern for a practice landing at an airport. According to the safety pilot, the airplane was high and slow during the final approach. About 10 ft above ground level, the airplane "floated a little longer," and the pilot initiated a go-around by applying full throttle. During the attempted go-around, both occupants applied conflicting "correction" inputs to the control yokes; the pilot applied back pressure, and the safety pilot applied forward pressure. The airplane stalled, the left wing impacted terrain, and the airplane came to rest upright adjacent to the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage and both wings. Both pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot statements were conflicting regarding the accident details and sequence of events. Based on the statements and airplane damage, it is likely that the conflicting control inputs resulted in the pilots' failure to maintain a proper airspeed and that the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall during the attempted go-around. Neither pilot reported that verbal communication was established during the landing sequence.

## Factual narrative

The pilot and a safety pilot were practicing instrument maneuvers, approaches, and landings at different airports during the flight. The airplane entered the traffic pattern for a practice landing at an airport. According to the safety pilot, the airplane was high and slow during the final approach. About 10 ft above ground level, the airplane "floated a little longer", and the pilot initiated a go-around by applying full throttle. During the attempted go-around, both occupants applied conflicting "correction" inputs to the control yokes; the pilot applied back pressure, and the safety pilot applied forward pressure. The airplane stalled, the left wing contacted the terrain, and the airplane came to rest upright adjacent to the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage and both wings. Both pilots reported there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot statements were conflicting regarding the accident details and sequence of events. Based on the statements and airplane damage, it is likely that proper airspeed was not maintained, and the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall during the attempted go-around. Neither pilot reported that verbal communication was established during the landing sequence.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N20JA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N20JA-2019-12-13), registration cancelled 2019-12-13, S/N 17280253, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (R)
- Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17280253
- Year built: 1997
- Airframe hours: 8765.4
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 30, 2018, 46 hours before
- Departed: FMM, Fort Morgan, CO
- Destination: GXY, Greeley, CO
- Airport: GXY, Greeley-Weld County Airport, runway 17, 10,000 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 3, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 164 total, 161 in this make and model, 114 as pilot in command, 67 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot-rated passenger; age 21; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 16, 2017; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 240 total, 207 in this make and model, 197 as pilot in command, 64 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observed at: GXY

## 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 20180808015129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180808015129A), Aug 8, 2018: Cessna 172R, Greeley, CO, Substantial damage. On August 8, 2018, at approximately 2000 hours (MST), N20JA, a Cessna c- 172, Sustained substantial damage on a touch and go at Greeley-Weld County (kgxy), CO.…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 27, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98025. 1.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 854 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466958&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF
- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Safety Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 617 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466959&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Safety%20Pilot-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.

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