# NTSB DEN89LA055: Cessna 172, N96319, Longmont, CO, January 4, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 4, 1989, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Longmont, CO
- Coordinates: 40.169082, -105.110839 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1691&lon=-105.1108&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 22, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17659
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89LA055
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17659/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA055

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT DURING THE LANDING ROLL.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  SNOW ON THE EDGES OF THE RUNWAY, THE STUDENT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE, AND THE SNOWBANK.

## 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 - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PLT LANDED ON RWY 29 (4200 X 60 FT) IN CALM WIND CONDITIONS. HE STATED THAT DURING THE LANDING, THE ACFT VEERED TO THE LEFT, ENCOUNTERED A SNOWDRIFT & SUBSEQUENTLY NOSED OVER. ALSO, HE RPRTD THAT ABOUT 6 TO 8 FT OF THE RUNWAY WAS STILL COVERED WITH SNOW AT THE EDGES. HE BELIEVED THAT PLOWING THE FULL WIDTH OF THE RUNWAY MAY HAVE HELPED PREVENT THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N96319 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17276056
- Airframe hours: 2772
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Denver Air Center
- Registered owner: Warner W. Tyler
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 6, 1988, 37 hours before
- Departed: BJC, DENVER, CO
- Destination: 2V2
- Airport: 2V2, Longmont, runway 29, 4,200 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 22 total, 22 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 39 °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 19890104000209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890104000209A), Jan 4, 1989: Cessna 172P, Longmont, CO, Substantial damage. Student allowed aircraft to veer to edge of runway on landing. Struck a snowdrift and nosed over.

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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