# NTSB DEN82DA112: Cessna 172, N737VH, Colorado Spring, CO, June 17, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: June 17, 1982, 14:40 local (20:40 UTC)
- Place: Colorado Spring, CO
- Location: 38.8339° N, 104.8214° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Colorado Springs, CO, within about 8 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8339&lon=-104.8214&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 17, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70304
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN82DA112
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70304/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN82DA112

## 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
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not possible, pilot in command
  - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled, pilot in command
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE PILOT SAW THUNDERSTORMS NEAR PUEBLO AND COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, AND CHECKED THE ATIS AT BOTH PLACES. HE ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE ON THE APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT, BUT OTHERWISE, THE APPROACH AND TOUCHDOWN WERE NORMAL. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, A STRONG GUST OF WIND CAUGHT THE AIRCRAFT AFTER TOUCHDOWN AND DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND WAS DAMAGED. THE RUNWAY WAS WET AND THERE WAS A LOCALIZED THUNDERSTORM IN THE AREA. THE PILOT ESTIMATED THE WIND WAS GUSTING TO 50 KTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N737VH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N737VH-1986-03-27), registration cancelled 1986-03-27, S/N 17269705 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17269705
- Airframe hours: 1825
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Chesley M. Louitt
- Registered owner: James C. Bastian
- Departed: CEZ, CORTEZ, CO
- Destination: GUC, GUNNISON, CO
- Airport: 8V0, Ellicott, runway 35, 5,000 × 40 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 110 total, 14 in this make and model, 787 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles

## 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 19820617050539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820617050539A), Jun 17, 1982: Cessna 172N, Colorado Spring, CO, Substantial damage. During landing roll aircraft encountered strong gusty wind from nearby thunderstorm, aircraft departed runway.

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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