# NTSB DEN03LA003: Cessna 172P, N65312, Broomfield, CO, October 6, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 6, 2002, 10:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Broomfield, CO - Coordinates: 39.908611, -105.117225 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9086&lon=-105.1172&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 55843 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA003 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55843/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA003 ## Probable cause the pilot misjudging the clearance between the airplane and a fixed object during taxi. Contributing factors were the pilot's attention being diverted and sunglare. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot was unfamiliar with the airport and asked ground control for directions to transient parking. She was directed to an area southeast of the control tower, but the ramp was full. The pilot said her husband was talking and directing her. She asked him to be quiet but he kept talking. During the "spirited discussion," the pilot lost focus and concentration, and misjudged her relative position to a steel light post near a building. The pilot also said the sun was in her eyes. The airplane's left wing struck a pole, damaging the leading edge just outboard of the lift strut, and crushing the aft spar. ## Factual narrative On October 6, 2002, approximately 1000 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N65312, operated by Aspen Flying Club, of Englewood, Colorado, was substantially damaged when it collided with a pole while taxiing from landing at Jefferson County Airport, Broomfield, Colorado. The private pilot and her passenger were 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 Centennial Airport, Englewood, Colorado, approximately 0910. The flight to, and landing at, Jefferson County Airport was uneventful. According to the pilot, she was unfamiliar with the airport and asked ground control for directions to transient parking. She was directed to an area southeast of the control tower, but the ramp was full. The pilot wrote, "My passenger (husband) was talking a lot and directing me. I asked him to be quiet and he did not. We were having a spirited discussion about what to do, and I lost focus and concentration misjudged my relative position to a steel light post (near a building)." The airplane's left wing struck a pole, damaging the leading edge just outboard of the lift strut, and crushing the aft spar. In a telephone interview, the pilot said the sun was in her eyes, causing her to misjudge the clearance between the airplane and the pole. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N65312](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N65312-2018-08-10), registration cancelled 2018-08-10, S/N 17275728, built 1982 (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: 17275728 - Airframe hours: 8831 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Aspen Flying Club - Registered owner: Lawrence D. Ramsdell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 4, 2002, 2 hours before - Departed: APA, Englewood, CO - Destination: APA, Broomfield, CO - Airport: BJC, Jefferson County ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 14, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 170 total, 168 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 8 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.32 inHg - Observed at: BJC ## 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 20021006028679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021006028679A), Oct 6, 2002: Cessna 172P, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) After landing at bjc, the pilot taxied to transient parking area southeast of main terminal. Finding this ramp full she then repositioned to another… ## Other investigations on N65312 (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 DEN00LA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA070), Apr 8, 2000: Cessna 172P (N65312), Fort Collins, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: On ground loss of control resulting in collision with airport markings due to inadequate compensation for wind conditions during landing roll. Factors were inaccurate in flight planning by landing… 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.