- Date
- July 20, 2007, 14:58 local (20:58 UTC)
- Place
- Englewood, CO
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N78011Cessna A185F
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 27, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA Flight Standards District Office
- FAA report
- 20070720015979A
- Case key
- 66296
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
This case was revised 10/31/2007.
Low compression in number 2 cylinder, which reduced the airplane's climb capability. Contributing factors in this accident were the high density altitude conditions, and the tree.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
This case was revised 10/31/2007.
The pilot said he used a normal takeoff technique and rotated 10 knots higher than the recommended POH (Pilot Operating Handbook) speed. He tried "to stay in what little ground effect that was possible...[but] climb performance began to degrade after a few moments." He decided not to continue towards the south, but turned to parallel an interstate highway. During the turn, he had to maneuver the airplane to avoid hitting an overhead sign. The maneuver "scrubbed off enough energy/airspeed" that the pilot "elected to make a precautionary landing" and avoid "possibly stalling the airplane." The pilot landed on an embankment adjacent to the E-470 toll road. During the landing roll, the left wing struck a pine tree near the lift strut, damaging the main spar. Documents submitted by the pilot indicated the airplane was at or near gross weight and was within center of gravity limits. Density altitude was estimated to be between 8,800 and 9,200 feet msl. The pilot later examined the engine and reported the compression on No. 2 cylinder was 40/80.
Factual narrative
This case was revised 10/31/2007
On July 20, 20074, at 1458 mountain daylight time, a Cessna A185F (equipped with Aerocet 3400 amphibious floats), N78011, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged when the it struck a tree during a forced landing after the airplane failed to climb out of ground effect following takeoff from Runway 17L at Centennial Airport (APA), Englewood, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and two passengers on board the airplane were not injured. The cross-country flight originated at 1504 and was en route to Sturgis (49B), South Dakota.
The pilot said he used a normal takeoff technique and rotated 10 knots higher than the recommended POH (Pilot Operating Handbook) speed. He tried "to stay in what little ground effect that was possible...[but] climb performance began to degrade after a few moments." He decided not to continue towards the south, but turned to parallel an interstate highway. During the turn, he had to maneuver the airplane to avoid hitting an overhead sign. The maneuver "scrubbed off enough energy/airspeed" that the pilot "elected to make a precautionary landing" and avoid "possibly stalling the airplane." The pilot landed on an embankment adjacent to the E-470 toll road. During the landing roll, the left wing struck a pine tree near the lift strut, damaging the main spar.
Documents submitted by the pilot indicated the airplane was at or near gross weight and was within center of gravity limits. Density altitude was estimated to be between 8,800 and 9,200 feet msl.
On September 18, 2007, the pilot examined the engine and found that the compression on No. 2 cylinder was 40/80.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N78011
- Reported as
- Cessna A185F
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 3902
- Airframe hours
- 5,384
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-D, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Marine Resources, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 1, 2006
- Departed
- APA · Englewood, CO
- Destination
- 49B · Sturgis, SD
- Airport
- APA · Centennial, runway 17L, 10,002 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 47
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,650 total · 151 in this make and model · 2,575 as pilot in command · 43 in the last 90 days · 25 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 14 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 86 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.09 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.