# NTSB DEN83LA110: Cessna 172F, N5501R, Escalante, UT, May 8, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 8, 1983, 17:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Escalante, UT
- Coordinates: 37.769062, -111.60073 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7691&lon=-111.6007&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16074
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83LA110
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16074/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83LA110

## 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
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - performance data - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - proper climb rate - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - abort - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb
- Nose over, takeoff - initial climb

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN AND NOSED OVER OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY DURING TAKEOFF. THE RUNWAY IN USE WAS 12 AND THE WIND WAS FROM 180 DEGREES AT 5 KTS GUSTING TO 15 KTS. THE RUNWAY IS 5000 FEET LONG AND 60 FEET WIDE. THE FIELD ELEVATION IS 5740 FEET AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS 70 DEGREES F. THE DENSITY ALT. WAS ABOUT 7500 FEET. THE ACFT WING TANKS WERE FULL AND THERE WERE 4 PERSONS ON BOARD. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ACFT SKIPPED TO THE LEFT JUST PRIOR TO TAKEOFF AND THEN WOULD NOT CLIMB OVER 50 FEET. HE COULD NOT GET THE ACFT BACK OVER THE RUNWAY. THE STALL WARNING SOUNDEDSO HE PUT THE WHEEL FORWARD AND THE PLANE TOUCHED THE END OF THE RUNWAY, SKIPPED OVER A GULLY AND HIT ON THE WHEELS ON THE SIDE OF A HILL ABOUT 200 OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE NOSE GEAR DUG INTO THE SOFT DIRT AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER. NOONE WAS INJURED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5501R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5501R-1994-05-03), registration cancelled 1994-05-03, S/N 17253071 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172F
- Registry model: [Cessna 172F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (registry code 2072414) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17253071
- Airframe hours: 2400
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300D 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Brant C. Calkin
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 26, 1982
- Destination: SAF, SANTA FE, NM
- Airport: 1L7, Escalante, runway 12, 5,000 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; private; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 813 total, 682 in this make and model, 682 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 5 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point -0 °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 19830508018009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830508018009A), May 8, 1983: Cessna 172F, Escalante, UT, Substantial damage. Allowed aircraft to drift off runway alignment on takeoff. Gross load and density altitude negated climb. Crashed.

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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