# NTSB DEN01LA046: Cessna R172E, N7905N, Colorado Spring, CO, January 30, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 30, 2001, 14:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Colorado Spring, CO - Location: 38.8058° N, 104.7008° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at CITY OF COLORADO SPRINGS MUNI (COS), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8058&lon=-104.7008&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 20, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 51415 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01LA046 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51415/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA046 ## Probable cause the student pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind during landing roll. A contributing factor was the cross wind weather condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - snowbank ## Analysis The student pilot (19 hours of flight experience) was making his second supervised solo flight. During landing roll on runway 12, the airplane exited the left side of the runway and impacted a snow bank. The reported wind was 060 degrees at 16 knots. ## Factual narrative On January 30, 2001, at 1445 mountain standard time, a Cessna R172E, N7905N, was substantially damaged when it exited the side of the runway during landing roll and impacted a snow bank at Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, Colorado Springs, Colorado. The student pilot, the sole occupant in the airplane, was not injured. The United States Air Force Flight Training Center at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado, was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local instructional solo flight that originated approximately 45 minutes before the accident. No flight plan had been filed. The flight instructor said that the student was performing his second supervised solo (19 hours of flight experience). According to the student pilot, during landing roll a gust of wind lifted his left wing, and he subsequently exited the left side of runway 12. The airplane impacted a snow bank, and the right wing tip was bent up. The instructor said that when the student's flight started the wind was approximately east, north-east at 5 knots. He said that approximately 30 minutes later, the wind increased, and he requested that the student discontinue the flight. The flight instructor said that he thought the wind was between 010 and 020 degrees at the time of the student's final landing. The National Weather Service reported the wind at Colorado Springs Airport at 1454 as 060 degrees at 16 knots. The Owner's Manual for the airplane states "the maximum allowable crosswind velocity is dependent upon pilot capability rather than airplane limitations. With average pilot technique, direct crosswinds of 15 knots can be handled with safety." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7905N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7905N), registered now, S/N R172-0296, built 1968 (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: R172-0296 - Airframe hours: 11750 - Engines: Continental IO-360 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: United States Air Force - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 5, 2001, 34 hours before - Departed: COS, Colorado Spring, CO - Airport: COS, City of Colorado Springs Munic, runway 12, 8,268 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 19 total, 19 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 16 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: COS ## 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 20010130001079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010130001079A), Jan 30, 2001: Cessna R172E, Colorado Spring, CO, No damage. (-23) Student on second supervised solo. Made four landings ok when wind picked up in velocity. Instructor advised tower to have student make a full stop… 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.