# NTSB DEN99LA106: Cessna 172N, N5266J, Platteville, CO, June 18, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 18, 1999, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Platteville, CO - Coordinates: 38.019641, -108.069404 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0196&lon=-108.0694&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46581 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN99LA106 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46581/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA106 ## Probable cause The pilot misjudging the flare altitude, resulting in a hard landing, and his subsequent loss of aircraft control. A factor was overload forces collapsing the nose landing gear assembly. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,nose gear assembly - overload (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot landed at a private airport, turned around at the end of the runway, and took off again. He remained in the airport traffic pattern with the intention of making another landing. The touchdown was said to be 'firm.' The airplane bounced three times before the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane skidded to a halt, damaging the right wing extensively. ## Factual narrative On June 18, 1999, approximately 1600 mountain daylight time, N5266J, a Cessna 172N, registered to KLM Aircraft and operated by the Aims Community College, both of Greeley, Colorado, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain while landing at Platteville, Colorado. The private pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the instructional flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Greeley approximately 1530. According to the pilot's accident report, he had been practicing chandelles and lazy 8s when he decided to land at Kugel Strong Airport, near Platteville, Colorado. He landed on runway 15, turned around at the end of the runway, and took off on runway 33. He remained in the airport traffic pattern with the intention of making another landing. The pilot said the touch down was "firm." The airplane bounced three times before the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane skidded to a halt, damaging the right wing extensively. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5266J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5266J-2008-03-18), registration cancelled 2008-03-18, S/N 17273749, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17273749 - Airframe hours: 6937 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Aims Community College - Registered owner: Klm Aircraft, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 8, 1999, 35 hours before - Departed: GXY, GREELEY, CO - Destination: 27V - Airport: 27V, Kugel Strong, runway 33, 4,000 × 20 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 20; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 180 total, 130 in this make and model, 160 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GXY, 18 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 19990618042959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990618042959A), Jun 18, 1999: Cessna 172N, Platteville, CO, No damage. (-23) Mr. Reck stated he was making short and soft landing at 27V. After successful first landing, second landing bounced 3 times. At the third bounce, the… ## Other investigations on N5266J (2) 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 DEN88LA174](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88LA174), Jul 25, 1988: Cessna 172M (N5266J), Gillette, WY, substantial damage - [NTSB DEN82DA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN82DA083), May 10, 1982: Cessna 172 (N5266J), Sturgis, SD, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.