# NTSB DEN00LA115: Cessna 172K, N84105, Orchard, CO, June 21, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 20, 2000, 21:45 local (Jun 21, 2000, 03:45 UTC) - Place: Orchard, CO - Coordinates: 40.330692, -104.119873 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3307&lon=-104.1199&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49491 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00LA115 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49491/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA115 ## Probable cause The pilot inadvertently stalling the airplane. A factor was his failure to maintain sufficient airspeed. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - airspeed - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - lift-off - premature, pilot in command - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb - terrain condition - water ## Analysis While was en route from Greeley to Akron, Colorado, the pilot observed smoke coming from the cowling. He made a precautionary landing on a beach alongside a reservoir. After landing, the pilot inspected the airplane but couldn't find the smoke source. After a period of time to allow the smoke to dissipate, the pilot prepared for takeoff. He said all engine instrument indications were normal and maximum engine power was being developed. A short field takeoff was made, and he lifted off 'prior to [the] go-no go decision point.' As the airplane crossed over the water, it began losing altitude. The right wing dropped and the airplane struck the water and nosed over. The pilot surmised that the smoke source was due to the 'breaking in' of the newly installed muffler and exhaust stacks. ## Factual narrative On June 20, 2000, approximately 2145 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172K, N84105, operated by Champion Airviews Co., of Port Orange, Florida, was destroyed when it collided with water during takeoff from a beach near Orchard, Colorado. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Greeley, Colorado, approximately 1830. In a telephone interview (and repeated in his accident report), the pilot said that while he was en route to Akron, Colorado, he observed smoke coming from the cowling and a light smoke entered the cockpit. He elected to make a precautionary landing on a beach alongside the Riverside Reservoir. After landing, the pilot inspected the airplane but couldn't find the smoke source. After a period of time to allow the smoke to dissipate, the pilot prepared for takeoff. He said all engine instrument indications were normal and maximum engine power was being developed. A short field takeoff was made, and he lifted off "prior to [the] go-no go decision point." As the airplane crossed over the water, it began losing altitude. The right wing dropped and the airplane struck the water and nosed over. The pilot noted that extensive maintenance had been performed on the airplane and on two different occasions, he had made off-airport precautionary landings due to smoke in the cockpit. In the first incident, wiring inside the transponder had burned. In the second incident, unsecured wires had chaffed against a bus bar and short circuited. He surmised that the smoke source during this latest incident was due to the "breaking in" of the newly installed muffler and exhaust stacks. The airplane was submerged and water damaged. Additionally, there was damage to both wings and empennage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N84105](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N84105), registered now, S/N 17258335 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172K - Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-E2D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-e2d) (registry code 42123, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17258335 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Leroy Champion - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: GXY, GREELEY, CO - Destination: AKO, AKRON, CO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,807 total, 1,785 in this make and model, 1,628 as pilot in command, 325 in the last 90 days, 124 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 70° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GXY, 23 nm away ## 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 20000620009829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000620009829A), Jun 20, 2000: Cessna 172K, Orchard, CO, No damage. (-23) While enroute from greeley to akron the pilot stated he observed smoke coming from the cowl and light smoke entered the cockpit. The pilot and sole… 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.