# NTSB DEN04LA150: Cessna 172S, N802SP, Broomfield, CO, September 30, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 30, 2004, 14:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Broomfield, CO - Coordinates: 39.908611, -107.117225 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9086&lon=-107.1172&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 60263 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN04LA150 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60263/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04LA150 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper flare, and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the pilot. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## Analysis The pilot was a CFI candidate and his flight instructor was preparing him to take the flight instructor practical test. He was asked to demonstrate a short field landing. The airplane crossed the threshold at 65 KIAS (knots indicated airspeed) and was flared about 60-61 KIAS. The nose "suddenly pitched down" and the airplane struck the runway "hard." The pilot added full power, retracted the flaps to 20 degrees, and rejected the landing. The airplane vibrated as it climbed 300-400 feet per minute to pattern altitude. The flight instructor assumed control of the airplane, declared an emergency, and told control tower personnel that the elevator was jammed. The instructor used power to control altitude and flew a 2-mile final approach. The engine was secured just before touchdown, and a successful landing was made. Postaccident examination disclosed the propeller had struck the runway, and the nose wheel was crooked. The nose strut was pushed back into the firewall. The elevator and elevator trim, which had been set for landing, were also jammed. No evidence of a pre-existing failure of the elevator control was found. ## Factual narrative On September 30, 2004, approximately 1445 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172S, N802SP, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at Jeffco Airport, Broomfield, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local instructional flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and flight instructor were not injured. The flight originated at Broomfield approximately 1400. According to the accident report filed by the pilot, he was a CFI candidate and his flight instructor was preparing him to take the flight instructor practical test. He was asked to demonstrate a short field landing on runway 11R. The airplane crossed the threshold at 65 KIAS (knots indicated airspeed) and was flared about 60-61 KIAS. The nose "suddenly pitched down" and the airplane struck the runway "hard." The pilot added full power, retracted the flaps to 20 degrees, and rejected the landing. The airplane vibrated as it climbed 300-400 feet per minute to pattern altitude. The flight instructor assumed control of the airplane, declared an emergency, and told control tower personnel that the elevator was jammed. The instructor used power to control altitude and flew a 2-mile final approach. The engine was shut down just before touchdown, and a successful landing was made on runway 11L. Postaccident examination disclosed the propeller had struck the runway, and the nose wheel was crooked. The nose strut was pushed back into the firewall. The elevator and elevator trim, which had been set for landing, were also jammed. According to a repair company that examined the airplane, there was no evidence of a pre-existing failure of the elevator. Movement of the elevator and trim cables were restricted as a result of the hard runway contact. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N802SP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N802SP), registered now, S/N 172S8107, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8107 - Airframe hours: 1573 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: McAir Aviation, LLC - Registered owner: Upwind Aviation Services, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 4, 2004, 52 hours before - Departed: BJC, Broomfield, CO - Destination: BJC - Airport: BJC, Jeffco, runway 11R, 7,004 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 64; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 20, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 2,044 total, 1,600 in this make and model, 1,993 as pilot in command, 126 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 8, 2004; seat: right; flight hours: 441 total, 236 in this make and model, 332 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 10 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 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 20040930023019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040930023019A), Sep 30, 2004: Cessna 172S, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) Mr. Fowler was receiving instructor for CFI and was flying the aircraft from the right seat. He was attempting to make a short field landing and landed… 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.