# NTSB DFW08LA238: Cessna R172K, N736LN, Leadville, CO, September 29, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 29, 2008, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Leadville, CO
- Coordinates: 39.136112, -106.218612 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1361&lon=-106.2186&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 3 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 22, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Cessna, TCM, FAA Denver FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 69030
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW08LA238
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69030/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=69030
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08LA238

## Probable cause

The flight instructor's failure to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering at low altitude.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna R172K, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2072431), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna R172K, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072431), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-climb to cruise: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220); cases with it: [Cessna R172K, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=2072431), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md)
- [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna R172K, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072431), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna R172K, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072431), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Cessna R172K, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072431), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna R172K, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072431), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor was demonstrating how to maneuver at about 400 feet to 1,000 feet above mountainous terrain using updrafts on the west face of the ridge line to improve climb performance. Another airplane on the same route, about five minutes ahead of them, had reported that they were getting updrafts that gave them occasional climb rates of up to 500 to 600 feet per minute. The accident airplane was headed toward rising terrain and climbing at approximately 400 to 500 feet per minute when suddenly the airplane quit climbing and the stall warning sounded. The flight instructor took over the controls, lowered the flaps, maintained full engine power at approximately 2,700 rpm, and made a crash landing at approximately 12,000 feet mean sea level on the upslope of the mountain. The airplane struck terrain with the wings level approximately 500 feet below the crest of the mountain ridge and came to rest inverted 50 feet from the initial impact point. A subsequent examination of the airplane showed no prexisting anomalies.

## Factual narrative

On September 29, 2008, approximately 1100 hours mountain daylight time (MDT), a Cessna CE-172K, N736LN,, was substantially damaged during impact with terrain while maneuvering southeast of Leadville, Colorado. The flight instructor, student pilot, and passenger, received minor injuries. The airplane was registered to Givin You The Bird LLC and operated by Alliance Flight Training LLC. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight originated from the Lake County Airport (LXV) Leadville, Colorado on a flight to the Front Range Airport (FTG) Denver, Colorado. The flight instructor was demonstrating how to maneuver at about 400 feet to 1,000 feet above mountainous terrain and use updrafts on the west face of the ridge line to improve climb performance. Another airplane flying from FXV to FTG was about five minutes ahead of N736LN and had reported they were getting updrafts that gave them occasional climb rates of up to 500 to 600 feet per minute. N736LN was headed toward rising terrain and climbing at approximately 400 to 500 feet per minute when suddenly the airplane quit climbing and the stall warning sounded. The flight instructor took over the controls, lowered flaps, maintained full engine power at approximately 2,700 rpm and made a crash landing at approximately 12,000 feet mean sea level on the upslope side of the mountain. The airplane struck terrain with the wings level approximately 500 feet below the crest of the mountain ridge and came to rest inverted 50 feet from the initial impact point. Both the flight instructor and the student pilot were able to make cellular phone calls to 911 emergency to report the crash. An emergency medical service helicopter then responded and evacuated the three injured occupants. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane’s flight controls. The pilot further reported that he had filed and activated a VFR flight plan. Records from the Prescott Hub automated flight service station (AFSS) show the pilot telephoned at 0658 to obtain a preflight weather briefing. During the preflight weather briefing the pilot filed a VFR flight plan from FTG to FTG with a fuel stop at FXV. He estimated his departure from FTG at 0700 with an estimated time of arrival at FTG of 1200. At 0822 the Prescott AFSS received a call at the in-flight position when the pilot reported the weather conditions over Rollins Pass, 46 miles west of FTG. The pilot did not make a request to activate the flight plan. The airplane was recovered to the Beegles Aircraft Service Inc, at Greeley, Colorado where an inspection of the airframe and engine did not disclose any evidence of preexisting anomalies with either.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N736LN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N736LN-2017-05-23), registration cancelled 2017-05-23, S/N R1722613, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA R172K
- Registry model: [Cessna R172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r172k) (registry code 2072431) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: R1722613
- Airframe hours: 4424
- Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-360 SER 195 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Alliance Flight Training LLC
- Registered owner: Givin You The Bird LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 1, 2008, 24 hours before
- Departed: LXV, Leadville, CO
- Destination: FTG, Denver, CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: LXV, Lake County Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 32; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 21, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 800 total, 550 in this make and model, 637 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 52; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 80 total, 60 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 30.61 inHg
- Observed at: LXV, 6 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 20080929850809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080929850809A), Sep 29, 2008: Cessna R172K, Leadville, CO, Destroyed. On September 29, 2008 [privacy data omitted] was receiving instruction in a Cessna 172XP [privacy data omitted] from [privacy data omitted] near Leadville,…

## Docket (18 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 18, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=69030. 5.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325410&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Field Notes - Aircraft Wreckage Exam (item 2, .PDF, 36 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325455&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Field%20Notes%20-%20Aircraft%20Wreckage%20Exam-Master.PDF
- Powerplant - Engine Examination (item 3, .PDF, 874 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325458&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Powerplant%20-%20Engine%20Examination-Redacted.PDF
- Witness Statement - Pilot of Other Airplane (item 4, .PDF, 200 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325412&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement%20-%20Pilot%20of%20Other%20Airplane-Redacted.PDF
- Witness Statement - Civil Air Patrol Search Team (item 5, .PDF, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325413&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement%20-%20Civil%20Air%20Patrol%20Search%20Team-Redacted.PDF
- Map 1 - West of Weston Pass - North up (item 6, .PDF, 203 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325414&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Map%201%20-%20West%20of%20Weston%20Pass%20-%20North%20up-Master.PDF
- Map 2 - West of Weston Pass - Looking SE (item 7, .PDF, 189 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325416&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Map%202%20-%20West%20of%20Weston%20Pass%20-%20Looking%20SE-Master.PDF
- Map 3 - West of Weston Pass - Looking SE (item 8, .PDF, 181 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325417&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Map%203%20-%20West%20of%20Weston%20Pass%20-%20Looking%20SE-Master.PDF
- Maps 4 - KLXV Airport to Weston Pass (item 9, .PDF, 167 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325418&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maps%204%20-%20KLXV%20Airport%20to%20Weston%20Pass-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 - CAP Inflight Photo (item 10, .PDF, 520 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325419&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20CAP%20Inflight%20Photo-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 - CAP Photo at accident scene (item 11, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325420&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20CAP%20Photo%20at%20accident%20scene-Master.PDF
- Photo 3 - Initial impact scar (item 12, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325421&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Initial%20impact%20scar-Master.PDF
- ATC - Report of Pilot Contacts with AFSS (item 13, .PDF, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325422&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=ATC%20-%20Report%20of%20Pilot%20Contacts%20with%20AFSS-Redacted.PDF
- Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 14, .PDF, 398 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325423&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF
- Aircraft Performance - Density Altitude @ KLXV (item 15, .PDF, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325425&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20Performance%20-%20Density%20Altitude%20@%20KLXV-Master.PDF
- Sheriff's Department - 911 Emergency Call Log (item 16, .PDF, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325428&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Sheriff%27s%20Department%20-%20911%20Emergency%20Call%20Log-Redacted.PDF
- Maintenance Records - Aircraft Logs Selected Pages (item 17, .PDF, 831 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325429&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20-%20Aircraft%20Logs%20Selected%20Pages-Redacted.PDF
- Weather Reports - Surrounding Stations (item 18, .PDF, 11 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325432&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20-%20Surrounding%20Stations-Master.PDF

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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