# NTSB DEN90LA023: Cessna 172P, Bryce Canyon, UT, November 13, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 13, 1989, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Bryce Canyon, UT
- Location: 37.6283° N, 112.1677° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bryce Canyon, UT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6283&lon=-112.1677&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 11, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17867
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90LA023
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17867/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90LA023

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN ADEQUATE CLIMB SPEED. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING IN THAT THE PILOT DID NOT ADEQUATELY CONSIDER THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE EFFECT ON THE AIRPLANE'S CLIMB PERFORMANCE.

## 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)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT SAID HE SELECTED 10 DEG OF FLAPS AND TOOK OFF ON RWY 21. WINDS WERE FROM 240 DEG AT 10, GUSTING TO 15 KTS. THE AIRPLANE USED ABOUT 2500 FT OF THE 7400-FT RUNWAY. AFTER THE AIRPLANE REACHED 400 FT AGL, IT WOULD NOT CLIMB ANY MORE SO THE PLT TURNED RIGHT, INCREASED THE ANGLE OF ATTACK, AND NOTICED THE AIRSPEED DECAYING. THE PLT SAID HE SELECTED A LANDING AREA AND MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING. THE PLANE HIT A RIDGE, BOUNCED OVER A FENCE, SKIDDED THROUGH A SMALL DITCH, AND CAME TO REST IN A DEPRESSION. THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. THE ARPT ELEV WAS 7586 FT; DENSITY ALT WAS ESTD TO BE 8750 FT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: CGPGA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Category: Airplane
- Airframe hours: 5987
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Mount Royal College
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, October 30, 1989, 20 hours before
- Destination: IDA, IDAHO FALLS, ID
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 20; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 188 total, 188 in this make and model, 104 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point -0 °F

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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