# NTSB DEN92LA057: Cessna 172P, N65513, Englewood, CO, June 11, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 10, 1992, 18:57 local (Jun 11, 1992, 00:57 UTC)
- Place: Englewood, CO
- Coordinates: 39.579425, -104.86029 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5794&lon=-104.8603&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 4 minor
- Status: Completed, report July 29, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18213
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN92LA057
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18213/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN92LA057

## Probable cause

AIRPLANE CLIMB CAPABILITY EXCEEDED AND AN INADVERTENT PILOT INDUCED STALL. FACTORS WERE:  WEIGHT AND BALANCE EXCEEDED, HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, AND IMPROPER USE OF THE MIXTURE CONTROL.

## 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
  - aircraft performance,climb capability - exceeded (cause)
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - mixture - improper use of, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

THE PILOT SET 10 DEGREES OF FLAPS AND LEANED THE MIXTURE BY PULLING THE CONTROL AFT ONE INCH, EXPLAINING THAT WAS THE WAY HE HAD BEEN TAUGHT. HE TOOK OFF WITH THREE PASSENGERS AND FULL FUEL.  A WITNESS SAW THE AIRPLANE AT LOW ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED WITH THE NOSE APPROXIMATELY 45 DEGREES ABOVE THE HORIZON, AND SAID IT SEEMED TO BE 'STRUGGLING TO GAIN ALTITUDE.'  THE PILOT FLEW TOWARDS GRADUALLY RISING TERRAIN.  THE LEFT WING DROPPED AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A GOLF COURSE.  IT WAS COMPUTED THE AIRPLANE WAS APPROXIMATELY 122 POUNDS OVER MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT AND DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS 7,654 FT  MSL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N65513](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N65513-2014-10-28), registration cancelled 2014-10-28, S/N 17275768 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17275768
- Airframe hours: 4522
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: P.C. Flyers, Inc.
- Registered owner: Ruffin, Dennis L.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 24, 1992, 78 hours before
- Departed: APA
- Airport: APA, Centennial, runway 17, 7,003 × 77 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 821 total, 170 in this make and model, 649 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: APA, 1 nm away

## 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 19920610019389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920610019389A), Jun 10, 1992: Cessna 172P, Denver, CO, Destroyed. Unable to outclimb rising terrain in nose high climb. Stalled. Over gross weight. Below power curve at high altitude

## Other investigations on N65513 (1)

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.

- [NTSB DEN92LA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN92LA026), Jan 16, 1992: Cessna 172P (N65513), Englewood, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHEN THE STUDENT PILOT INADVERTENTLY ACTIVATED THE BRAKES DURING TAKEOFF ROLL. INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS A FACTOR.

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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