# NTSB DEN82DA071: Cessna 172, N1297U, Westcliffe, CO, April 4, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: April 4, 1982, 11:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place: Westcliffe, CO
- Coordinates: 38.129745, -105.460418 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1297&lon=-105.4604&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 4, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73015
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN82DA071
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73015/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN82DA071

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Nose over, taxi - to takeoff
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (cause)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - wind information - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED HE WAS TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF WHEN THE WIND LIFTED THE TAIL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND IT NOSED OVER. THE WIND WAS REPORTED AT 250 DEGREES, AT 15 TO 20 KTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1297U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1297U-2018-01-11), registration cancelled 2018-01-11, S/N 17266991, built 1976 (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: 17266991
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Rainbow Aviation Inc.
- Registered owner: James B And Julia Dodrill
- Departed: 29V, WESTCLIFFE, CO
- Destination: COS, COLORADO SPRING, CO
- Airport: 29V, Valley, runway 27, 4,200 × 100 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 108 total, 108 in this make and model, 106 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 122 °F

## 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 19820404012629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820404012629A), Apr 4, 1982: Cessna 172M, Westcliffe, CO, Substantial damage. Aircraft was blown over during ground taxi operation.

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.

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