# NTSB DEN83LA085: Cessna R172K, N736CU, Aurora, CO, March 27, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 27, 1983, 15:15 local (22:15 UTC)
- Place: Aurora, CO
- Coordinates: 39.739627, -104.779716 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7396&lon=-104.7797&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16056
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83LA085
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16056/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83LA085

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - inadequate (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A SNOWBANK DURING LANDING. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD CONTACTED FLT SERVICE AND ASKED ABOUTTHE RUNWAY CONDITIONS. NOTHING WAS REPORTED AND NO NOTAMS WERE POSTED. UPON ARRIVAL THE PILOT TRIED TO CONTACT UNICOM ATCOLUMBINE. SOMEONE USING CALL SIGN AURORA ANSWERED. ASSUMING COLUMBINE UNICOM WAS OUT OF SERVICE THE PILOT OVERFLEW THE FIELD FOR WIND AND TRAFFIC. HE ENTERED TRAFFIC AND LANDED AND DID NOT REALIZE THE RUNWAY WAS POORLY PLOWED UNTIL AFTER TOUCHDOWN. ONLY A NARROW PATH DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE RUNWAY WAS PLOWED. THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN WITH THE LEFT GEAR IN THE SNOW. AS THE ACFT ROLLED THE SNOW CLOGGED THE LEFT WHEEL AND THE ACFT. SWERVED OFF THE RUNWAY AND NOSED OVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N736CU](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N736CU-1985-12-11), registration cancelled 1985-12-11, S/N R1722428 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA R172K
- Registry model: [Cessna R172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r172k) (registry code 2072431) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: R1722428
- Airframe hours: 624
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-360K reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Robert Otto Holm
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 21, 1982, 90 hours before
- Departed: SAF, SANTA FE, NM
- Destination: 01V, AURORA, CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 0IV, Columbine, runway 32, 5,000 × 40 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 195 total, 74 in this make and model, 146 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 30,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 1 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DEN

## 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 19830327009839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830327009839A), Mar 27, 1983: Cessna R172K, Aurora, CO, Substantial damage. Aircraft wheel entered snow on runway causing left wheel to jam and eventually to flip inverted.

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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