# NTSB DEN05LA031: Cessna 172P, N55250, Englewood, CO, December 4, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 4, 2004, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Englewood, CO - Coordinates: 39.569999, -104.849166 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5700&lon=-104.8492&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 7, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 60674 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN05LA031 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60674/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN05LA031 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - runway light - object - sign ## Analysis During his third landing, the solo student pilot lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane struck a runway light and taxiway sign and came to rest upright off the left side of the runway. According to the pilot, the approach to runway was normal, and the airplane was aligned with the runway centerline. During the landing, the main landing gears touched down on the runway and then the nose landing gear touched down. Immediately after the nose wheel touched down on the runway, the airplane veered to the left. The pilot attempted to steer the airplane back to the right; however, the airplane did not respond to the pilot's rudder pedal inputs. Examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies with the airframe or nose wheel steering system. ## Factual narrative On December 4, 2004, approximately 1130 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172P single-engine airplane, N55250, sustained substantial damage when it impacted a taxiway sign and the nose gear collapsed following a loss of control during landing at Centennial Airport, Englewood, Colorado. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was registered to EDB Air Inc., Wilsonville, Oregon, and operated by Flights Inc., Englewood, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The solo flight departed Centennial Airport approximately 1100. According to the pilot's statement, the accident occurred during his third landing. After takeoff from runway 17L, (10,002 feet long by 100 feet wide), the air traffic controller instructed the pilot to enter the standard traffic pattern to land on runway 17L. The approach to runway 17L was normal, and the airplane was aligned with the runway centerline. During the landing, the main landing gears touched down on the runway and then the nose landing gear touched down. Immediately after the nose wheel touched down on the runway, the airplane veered to the left. The pilot attempted to steer the airplane back to the right; however, the airplane did not respond to the pilot's rudder pedal inputs. Subsequently, the airplane struck a runway light and taxiway sign and came to rest upright off the left side of the runway. The pilot reported the wind was approximately 5 knots. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed the nose gear was collapsed and the firewall was buckled. No anomalies were noted with the airframe or nose wheel steering system. Numerous attempts to obtain a completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) by the pilot were unsuccessful. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N55250](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N55250), registered now, S/N 17275144, 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: 17275144 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2J 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Flights Inc - Registered owner: EDB Air Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: APA, Denver, CO - Destination: APA, Denver, CO - Airport: APA, Centennial Airport, runway 17L, 10,002 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 30; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 30 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: APA ## 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 20041204030749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041204030749A), Dec 4, 2004: Cessna 172P, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) Student pilot was completing third landing of initial solo flight. When nose gear touched down on landing roll, aircraft made an abrupt turn to the left.… 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.