# NTSB DEN90LA009: Cessna 172H, N1639F, Del Norte, CO, October 21, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 21, 1989, 13:05 local (19:05 UTC)
- Place: Del Norte, CO
- Coordinates: 37.670112, -106.349502 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6701&lon=-106.3495&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17859
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90LA009
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17859/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90LA009

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING CLIMB RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL.

## 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
  - touch-and-go - performed, pilot in command
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb

## Analysis

THE PLT AND A PLT RATED PASSENGER WERE PRACTICING TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS. THE PLT SAID HE MADE A LANDING AND TAKEOFF BUT COULD NOT REMEMBER THE DETAILS OF THE CRASH. THE PAX SAID THE PLANE SEEMED SLOW DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, THEN IT STALLED AND THE NOSE FELL, STRIKING THE DIRT RUNWAY. THERE WERE 2 WITNESSES ON THE SCENE AND THEY REPORTED THAT THE LEFT WING ROLLED LOW, THEN THE NOSE LOWERED AND 'LANDED HARD ON THE DIRT RUNWAY.'

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1639F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1639F-1992-12-24), registration cancelled 1992-12-24, S/N 17255034 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172H
- Registry model: [Cessna 172H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172h) (registry code 2072424) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1755034
- Airframe hours: 5785
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Ronald Ecord, doing business as Mountainview Aeromotive
- Registered owner: Ronald L Ecord
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 25, 1989, 38 hours before
- Departed: 8V1
- Destination: 8V1
- Airport: 8V1, Del Norte, runway 20, 6,800 × 75 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 697 total, 53 in this make and model, 617 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °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 19891021041989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891021041989A), Oct 21, 1989: Cessna 172H, Del Norte, CO, Substantial damage. Stalled after liftoff. Impacted nose first. Pilot blamed a dust devil.

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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