# NTSB DEN90LA079: Cessna 172M, N19948, Colorado Spring, CO, March 25, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 24, 1990, 19:22 local (Mar 25, 1990, 02:22 UTC)
- Place: Colorado Spring, CO
- Coordinates: 38.819213, -104.700729 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8192&lon=-104.7007&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 28, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17907
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90LA079
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17907/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90LA079

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO INITIATE FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER, AND HIS IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISON. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND THE ACCUMULATION OF AIRFRAME ICE.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - window,flight compartment window/windshield - ice (contributing factor)
  - wing - ice (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT & HIS WIFE WERE EN ROUTE FROM MT VERNON, OH, TO COLORADO SPRINGS, CO.  THEY LANDED AT MCCOOK, NE, FOR FUEL & AN UPDATED WX BRIEFING. THE PLT WAS TOLD MVFR EXISTED AT THE DESTN, BUT IT WAS FORECAST TO CLR AT HIS ETA.  HE DEPD MCCOOK WITHOUT A FLT PLAN.  HE SAID HE ENCTRD 'ICE IN CLEAR SKIES' & LANDED AT AKRON, CO.  AFTER A 1.5 HR WAIT, HE DEPD AKRON AT 1740 MST WITH 27.2 GAL OF FUEL ON BOARD.  HE ENCTRD IMC & AIRFRAME ICE NEAR COLORADO SPRINGS & DECLARED AN EMERG.  APCH CONTROL VECTORED HIM FOR AN ILS RWY 35 APCH.  THE 1ST APCH WAS MISSED DUE TO ICE ON THE WINDSHIELD, BUT THE PLT SAW THE RWY ON THE 2ND APCH.  WHEN OVER THE RWY & ABOUT TO FLARE, HE REDUCED POWER.  WITH THE EXTRA WEIGHT &LOSS OF LIFT (DUE TO ICE ACCUMULATION), THE ACFT DROPPED & LANDED HARD.  THE PLT WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED, BUT HAD TAKEN THE WRITTEN INSTRUMENT TEST & WAS READY FOR THE FLT TEST.  THE 1920 MST WX WAS IN PART: 200' OVC, 1/4 VIS WITH FOG, WIND FROM 150 DEG AT 6 KTS.  MIN RVR FOR THE APCH WAS 2400'.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N19948](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N19948), registered now, S/N 17260878, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17260878
- Airframe hours: 1034
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Gary J. Durbin
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 3, 1990, 25 hours before
- Departed: AKO, AKRON, CO
- Destination: COS
- Airport: COS, City Of Co Springs Muni, runway 35, 11,021 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 324 total, 302 in this make and model, 283 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 150° at 6 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 200 ft overcast
- Temperature: 21 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: COS

## 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 19900324005219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900324005219A), Mar 24, 1990: Cessna 172M, Colorado Spring, CO, Substantial damage. Flew into clouds nearing destination. Vectored to ILS. Stalled on leveling off for landing due to airframe icing.

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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