# NTSB DEN04LA147: Cessna 172, N5338H, Provo, UT, September 22, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 22, 2004, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Provo, UT - Coordinates: 40.220481, -111.690788 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2205&lon=-111.6908&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 60188 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN04LA147 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60188/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04LA147 ## Probable cause the pilot's premature liftoff which resulted in failure to attain airspeed which resulted in a stall. ## 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 - lift-off - premature, pilot in command (cause) - soft field takeoff/procedure - attempted, pilot in command - airspeed - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis A student pilot, attempting a soft-field take-off, applied full power, but the "airplane did not respond as earlier in [the] day" and it "did not climb as expected." The airplane pitched up and veered off the left side of the runway. He said he was "too low to push [the] nose down to increase airspeed." The airplane's left wing dropped and struck the ground. The airplane spun around to the left, the nose and right wing struck the ground and the airplane came to a stop on a heading of approximately 070 degrees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, and the engine and right wing strut were separated from the fuselage. ## Factual narrative On September 22, 2004, at approximately 1730 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172, N5338H, piloted by a student pilot, was substantially damaged when it struck terrain during takeoff from Provo Municipal Airport (PVU), Provo, Utah. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local solo-instructional flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot received minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to the student pilot, he was attempting a soft-field takeoff on runway 31. He stated that when he taxied onto the runway, he continued to roll further down the runway to allow a landing airplane to clear the runway. After the runway was clear, he applied full power. He stated that the "airplane did not respond as earlier in [the] day" and it "did not climb as expected." The airplane pitched up and veered off the left side of the runway. He said he was "too low to push [the] nose down to increase airspeed." The airplane's left wing dropped and struck the ground. The airplane spun around to the left, the nose and right wing struck the ground and the airplane came to a stop on a heading of approximately 070 degrees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, and the engine and right wing strut were separated from the fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5338H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5338H-2004-11-10), registration cancelled 2004-11-10, S/N 17265406, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17265406 - Airframe hours: 1364.4 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Smith and Barlow Enterprises Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PVU, Provo, UT - Destination: PVU, Provo, UT - Airport: PVU, Provo Municipal, runway 31, 8,600 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 35; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 36 total, 36 in this make and model, 8 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: KPVU ## 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 20040922021839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040922021839A), Sep 22, 2004: Cessna 172M, Provo, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) The student pilot was practicing a soft-field takeoff from Provo Municipal Airport (pvu). The pilot said when he pulled back on the yoke, the left wing… 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.