# NTSB CEN21LA160: Cessna 172, N786CP, Watkins, CO, March 17, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 17, 2021, 15:26 local (21:26 UTC) - Place: Watkins, CO - Coordinates: 39.793705, -104.54734 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7937&lon=-104.5473&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102785 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA160 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102785/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102785 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA160 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff and the instructor pilot’s inadequate supervision of the pilot’s takeoff. ## 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 172S, 206 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/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 on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The instructor pilot reported that he’d asked the pilot receiving instruction to perform a short field takeoff. During the takeoff, the pilot raised the airplane’s nose early obstructing both pilots’ view over the nose and the airplane drifted to the left. The airplane exited the left side of the runway onto wet, soft ground, nosed down striking the propeller, and then ground looped coming to a stop about 150o from the takeoff direction. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The instructor pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N786CP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N786CP), registered now, S/N 172S11582, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (S) - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S11582 - Year built: 2015 - Airframe hours: 819.5 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft, Public use - Operator: Civil Air Patrol - Registered owner: Civil Air Patrol - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Departed: KAPA, Centennial, CO - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: CFO, Colorado Air And Space Port, runway 26, 8,002 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 78; injuries: none; military, flight engineer, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: unknown; last flight review November 24, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 26,000 total, 390 in this make and model, 41 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 11, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,459 total, 265 in this make and model, 1,960 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: KCFO ## 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 20210317001199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210317001199A), Mar 17, 2021: Cessna 172S, Watkins, CO, Substantial damage. PIC and trainee were performing full-stop landings and take-offs on rwy 26 at kcfo at approximately 4:15PM 3/17/2021. Weather data: kcfo 172126Z 06003KT 1OSM… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 15, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102785. 8.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12410776&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=cap%20ntsb%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12411709&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CAP%20photos%202-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 117 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12411821&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20CAP%20pilot-Rel.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.