# NTSB DEN05CA120: Cessna 172RG, N5136R, Fort Collins, CO, August 6, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 6, 2005, 15:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Fort Collins, CO - Coordinates: 40.451667, -105.011665 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4517&lon=-105.0117&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Denver, Colorado - NTSB case key (mKey): 62149 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN05CA120 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62149/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN05CA120 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain directional control. Contributing factors were the crosswind, the pilot's failure to compensate for the wind conditions --- allowing the airplane to touch down without being properly aligned with the runway --- 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). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - compensation for wind conditions - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - proper alignment - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - sign (contributing factor) ## Analysis The certified flight instructor (CFI) candidate was on final approach to runway 33. There was a "light" crosswind from the right (4 to 7 knots), and he crabbed the airplane into the wind. The instructor told the pilot several times to apply "more left rudder." The airplane touched down on the left main gear and the left wing tip scraped the ground. The pilot decided to abort the landing and applied full power. The airplane veered off the runway and struck a taxiway sign. The instructor took control and terminated the attempted abort. AWOS (Automated Weather Observation Station) recorded wind at the time of the accident as 060 degrees at 3 knots. ## Factual narrative On August 6, 2005, at 1515 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172RG, N5136R, operated by Colorado Contrails and piloted by a commercial pilot under the supervision of a flight instructor, was substantially damaged when it departed the runway and struck a taxiway sign while landing at Fort Collins/Loveland Airport (FNL), Fort Collins, 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, instructor, and passenger reported no injuries. The flight originated at Fort Collins, Colorado, approximately 1400. In his written statement, the right seat pilot, who was working on his CFI (certified flight instructor) certificate, stated he was on final approach to runway 33. There was a "light" crosswind from the right (4 to 7 knots), and he crabbed the airplane into the wind. The instructor said that he told the pilot several times to apply "more left rudder." The airplane touched down on the left main gear and the left wing tip scraped the ground. The pilot decided to abort the landing and applied full power. The airplane veered off the runway and struck a taxiway sign. The instructor took control and terminated the attempted abort. AWOS (Automated Weather Observation Station) recorded wind at the time of the accident as 060 degrees at 3 knots. Postaccident inspection revealed the left wingtip was cracked, the skin behind the wing strut was torn, the skin behind the main landing gear was rippled, the horizontal stabilizer leading edge was crushed, and the rear bulkhead was deformed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5136R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5136R-2007-02-22), registration cancelled 2007-02-22, S/N 172RG0040, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172RG - Registry model: [Cessna 172RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172rg) (registry code 2072438) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172RG0040 - Airframe hours: 7725.1 - Engines: Lycoming 0-360-F1A6 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Colorado Contrails Aviation, Inc. - Registered owner: Colorado Contrails Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 1, 2005, 6.1 hours before - Departed: FNL, Fort Collins, CO - Destination: FNL - Airport: KFNL, Fort Collins - Loveland, runway 33, 8,500 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 45; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 1,190 total, 26 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days - Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 280 total, 2 in this make and model, 104 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: FNL ## 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 20050806016769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050806016769A), Aug 6, 2005: Cessna 172RG, Fort Collins, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) The Cessna 172RG was on an instructional flight landing rw 33 at Loveland Fort Collins airport with the student as the flying pilot. He encountered a… 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.