# NTSB CEN25LA027: Cessna 172P, N62740, Falcon, CO, October 24, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 24, 2024, 08:50 local (14:50 UTC) - Place: Falcon, CO - Coordinates: 38.94277, -104.5699 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9428&lon=-104.5699&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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 195376 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA027 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195376/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195376 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA027 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action during takeoff, which resulted in a collision with a taxiway sign. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that his student was performing a simulated soft-field takeoff from a paved runway. During the takeoff roll, about 25 to 30 knots, the airplane veered left of runway centerline and began to liftoff. The student overcorrected to the right, the airplane bounced, and exited the right side of the runway. The flight instructor directed the student to reduce the power to idle as the airplane struck a taxiway sign. The flight instructor then took over the flight controls and landed the airplane back on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft fuselage. The instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. ## 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) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N62740](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N62740), registered now, S/N 17275331, built 1981 (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: 17275331 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 2990.2 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Doomac LLC DBA - Registered owner: Doomac LLC DBA - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 11, 2024 - Departed: FLY, Colorado Springs, CO - Destination: FLY, Colorado Springs, CO - Airport: FLY, Meadow Lake Airport, runway 33, 6,001 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 27, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 846.4 total, 99.5 in this make and model, 775.4 as pilot in command, 138.9 in the last 90 days, 48.1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 162.3 total, 79.8 in this make and model, 26.7 as pilot in command, 24.4 in the last 90 days, 6.2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KFLY - METAR: METAR KFLY 241455Z AUTO 28008KT 10SM CLR 16/M05 A3004 RMK AO2 T01611054= ## 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 20241024015039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241024015039A), Oct 24, 2024: Cessna 172P, Peyton, CO, Substantial damage. The instructional flight was initiated after a standard ground briefing about soft-field takeoffs and landings, and standard preflight preparation including… ## Other investigations on N62740 (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 DEN99LA159](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA159), Sep 3, 1999: Cessna 172P (N62740), Englewood, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the flare for landing/touchdown phase of flight. A factor was a ditch off the side of the runway. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 21, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195376. 6.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18126442&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20CEN25LA027_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 707 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18118437&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs%20CEN25LA027-Rel.pdf - Student pilot's statement (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 751 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18126035&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Student%20Pilot%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Instructor's statement (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18126269&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Instructor%27s%20Statement-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.