# NTSB DEN83FA039: Cessna 172A, N7611T, Leadville, CO, December 26, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 26, 1982, 08:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Leadville, CO
- Coordinates: 39.239986, -106.289192 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2400&lon=-106.2892&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 3 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 26, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71399
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83FA039
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71399/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83FA039

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - wing - ice (cause)
  - ice/frost removal from aircraft - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed(vs) - not obtained, pilot in command
  - aborted takeoff - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - snow covered

## Analysis

WHEN A WITNESS ARRIVED AT THE ARPT, THE ACFT WAS AT THE FUEL PUMPS & THE PLT HAD THE PREHEATER ATTACHED. THE WITNESS RPRTD THERE WAS FROST ON THE ACFT & THE PLT BRUSHED THE LOOSE FROST OFF WITH HIS HANDS. THE PLT ASKED FOR A WINDOW SCRAPER, WHICH WAS PROVIDED, BUT THE WITNESS DID NOT KNOW WHAT HE DID WITH IT. AFT REFUELING, THE PLT STARTED THE ENG & REMAINED ON THE RAMP A SHORT TIME BFR TAXIING. A TKOF WAS INITIATED FROM THE 5300 FT RWY IN CALM WND CONDS. THE ELEV & TEMP WERE 9927 FT MSL & 2 DEG F. REPORTEDLY, THE ACFT ROLLED FOR MORE THAN 3/4 OF THE RWY LENGTH BEFORE BCMG AIRBORNE. THE WITNESS RPRTD THAT AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE ACFT DID NOT GAIN ALTITUDE, BUT REMAINED LOW, BGN A LFT TURN, THEN WENT DOWN.ANOTHER WITNESS OBSVD THE ACFT FALL FROM A LOW ALT & CRASH IN A LFT WING LOW ATTITUDE. A PAX RPRTD THE PLANE SEEMED TO SLOW DWN & LOSE ALT AFT TKOF, AS IF IT WAS TOO HVY. HOWEVER, DISREGARDING ANY FROST/ICE, THE ACFT WAS ESTIMATED 88 LBS BLO THE MAX WT LMT. NO PREIMPACT, MECHANICAL FAILURE WERE FOUND WITH THE AIRFRAME OR ENG.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7611T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7611T-1983-10-20), registration cancelled 1983-10-20, S/N 47211 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172A
- Registry model: [Cessna 172A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172a) (registry code 2072404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 47211
- Airframe hours: 3489
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-C 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Thomas A. Hardy
- Registered owner: Thomas A. Hardy
- Departed: LXV, LEADVILLE, CO
- Destination: 36U, HEBER CITY, UT
- Airport: LXV, Lake County, runway 34, 5,300 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 324 total, 324 in this make and model, 294 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Temperature: 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LXV

## 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 19821226066729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821226066729A), Dec 26, 1982: Cessna 172A, Leadville, CO, Substantial damage. Stalled after takeoff from a high altitude field with frost on the airframe and near gross. Seat belts not used

## Other investigations on N7611T (1)

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.

- [NTSB NYC65F0047](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC65F0047), Feb 21, 1965: Cessna 172 (N7611T), Tewksbury, MA, substantial damage

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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