# NTSB DEN03LA072: Cessna 172P, N54202, Colo. Springs, CO, April 26, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 26, 2003, 11:50 local (17:50 UTC) - Place: Colo. Springs, CO - Coordinates: 38.945835, -104.569725 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9458&lon=-104.5697&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 56891 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA072 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56891/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA072 ## Probable cause the student pilot's failure to obtain and maintain adequate altitude during the go-around. Factors contributing to the accident were the encountered windshear, the student pilot's premature raising of the flaps, the instructor pilot's inadequate supervision, and the berm. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - windshear (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr) - altitude/clearance - not obtained/maintained, dual student (cause) - raising of flaps - premature, dual student (contributing factor) - terrain condition - berm (contributing factor) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - altitude - low - Nose over, go-around (vfr) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that while making an approach to the runway, the airplane encountered wind shear. The instructor told the student pilot to go-around. The student pilot added power and the airplane climbed "just above the runway." The flight instructor said the airplane would not climb. The instructor pilot said, "The nose wheel hit a small hill on the (approach) end of the runway and flipped us over." The airplane sustained damage to the propeller, engine cowling, nose gear, firewall, and both wings. Later, after the airplane had been recovered, the instructor pilot noted that the flaps were up. The instructor pilot reported that on approach, the flaps were in the full down position. An examination of the airplane revealed no pre-existing anomalies that could have contributed to the accident. The reported winds at the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, 225 degrees at 14 nautical miles, 4 minutes after the accident occurred, were 140 degrees at 5 knots. ## Factual narrative On April 26, 2003, at 1150 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N54202, piloted by a student pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted a berm at the approach end of runway 26 (2,084 feet by 40 feet, dry dirt) at Meadow Lake Airport, Colorado Springs, Colorado, and subsequently nosed over. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The instructional flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The certified flight instructor and dual student on board the airplane reported no injuries. The cross-country flight originated at Pueblo, Colorado, at 1045. The flight instructor reported that while making an approach to runway 26, the airplane encountered wind shear. He said he told the student pilot to go-around. The instructor pilot said the student pilot added power and the airplane climbed "just above the runway." The flight instructor said the airplane would not climb. The instructor pilot said, "The nose wheel hit a small hill on the (approach) end of the runway and flipped us over." After the airplane had been recovered, the instructor pilot noted that the flaps were up. The instructor pilot reported that on approach, the flaps were at 30 degrees or full down. An examination of the airplane showed damage to the propeller, engine cowling, nose gear, firewall, and both wings. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no pre-existing anomalies that could have contributed to the accident. At 1154, the routine weather report system at the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, 225 degrees at 14 nautical miles, reported clear skies, 10 statute miles visibility, temperature 64 degrees Fahrenheit (F), dew point 33 degrees F, winds 140 degrees at 5 knots, and altimeter 29.77 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N54202](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54202-2005-06-29), registration cancelled 2005-06-29, S/N 17274914, 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: 17274914 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: American Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PUB, Pueblo, CO - Destination: 00V, Colo. Springs, CO - Airport: 00V, Meadow Lake Airport, runway 26, 2,084 × 40 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 37; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; last flight review April 14, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 1,325 total, 1,050 in this make and model, 1,120 as pilot in command, 160 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.77 inHg - Observed at: COS, 14 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 20030426005619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030426005619A), Apr 26, 2003: Cessna 172P, Colorado Spring, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) Student pilot landed 26, instructor took control and bounce/stalled aircraft. Nose struck the ground and the aircraft flipped over. 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.