# NTSB DEN99LA159: Cessna 172P, N62740, Englewood, CO, September 3, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 3, 1999, 16:47 local (22:47 UTC) - Place: Englewood, CO - Coordinates: 39.64038, -104.990264 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6404&lon=-104.9903&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47263 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN99LA159 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47263/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA159 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the flare for landing/touchdown phase of flight. A factor was a ditch off the side of the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The student pilot was conducting a full stop landing at the completion of a solo training flight. He was using a short field approach to landing and his airspeed deteriorated during the flare to one knot above published stall. The aircraft drifted to the left, touched down off the side of the runway, and subsequently nosed over in a ditch. ## Factual narrative On September 3, 1999, at 1647 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N62740, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during landing roll at Centennial Airport, Englewood, Colorado. The student pilot, and sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this training flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91, and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed Centennial Airport at 1513. According to the pilot, he had conducted seven touch-and-go landings and was conducting his final landing on runway 35L with the wind directly down the runway at 10 to 15 knots. He said he was using a short field landing approach with 30 degrees flaps and the aircraft started to drift left in the flare at about 45 knots and he could not correct the drift with right rudder so he added full power in an attempt to regain control. The aircraft continued to drift left, touched down off the west side of the runway, and nosed over in a ditch. Recorded wind at the time was 310 degrees at 10 knots. The published stall speed, power off, using 30 degrees flaps, on the Cessna 172P is 44 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N62740](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N62740), registered now, S/N 17275331, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17275331 - Airframe hours: 7005 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Wings Of Denver - Registered owner: Mccully, C. W., Rock, R. D. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 18, 1999, 54 hours before - Departed: APA - Airport: APA, Centennial, runway 35L, 7,003 × 77 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 92 total, 92 in this make and model, 22 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 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 19990903043629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990903043629A), Sep 3, 1999: Cessna 172P, Denver, CO, No damage. (-23) Upon touchdown after the 8th landing while flying solo, pilot lost directional control and departed runway. A/c nosed over and came to rest upside down. ## Other investigations on N62740 (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 CEN25LA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA027), Oct 24, 2024: Cessna 172P (N62740), Falcon, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action during takeoff, which resulted in a collision with a taxiway sign. 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.