# NTSB FTW94LA088: Cessna 177RG, N2181Q, Longmont, CO, March 1, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 1, 1994, 05:45 local (12:45 UTC) - Place: Longmont, CO - Coordinates: 40.169075, -105.110664 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1691&lon=-105.1107&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report February 14, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19004 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA088 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19004/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=19004 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA088 ## Probable cause AN INADVERTENT STALL DUE TO IMPROPER PREFLIGHT AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY REMOVE ICE FROM THE AIRCRAFT. A FACTOR WAS AIRFRAME ICING. ## 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 - flight control surfaces/attachments - ice (contributing factor) - fuselage - ice (contributing factor) - wing - ice (contributing factor) - aircraft preflight - improper, pilot in command (cause) - ice/frost removal from aircraft - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - open field ## Analysis DURING INITIAL CLIMB FOLLOWING TAKEOFF, THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND IMPACTED TERRAIN OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY. EXAMINATION BY THE LOCAL POLICE, WITHIN 20 MINUTES FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT, PROVIDED EVIDENCE OF ICE ON ALL AIRCRAFT SURFACES. THE PILOT ALSO STATED THAT HE HAD FAILED TO PROPERLY REMOVE ICE FROM THE AIRCRAFT. ## Factual narrative On March 1, 1994, at 0545 mountain standard time, a Cessna 177RG, N2181Q, sustained substantial damage after control was lost following takeoff from Vance Brand Airport, Longmont, Colorado. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this personal flight to Montevideo, Minnesota. An IFR flight plan was on file. According to the pilot, the aircraft could not be kept airborne following takeoff from runway 29. The left wing was damaged and the fuselage was buckled. According to the responding Longmont police officer, who was a pilot, the aircraft wings and fuselage were coated with ice when he arrived on scene approximately 20 minutes following the accident. The officer stated that icing conditions were not present at the time, but freezing rain had fallen for most of the previous evening. In a statement to the responding police officer, the pilot stated that he made a mistake and did not deice the aircraft sufficiently prior to takeoff. (See attached police report). According to the enclosed pilot report, there was a slight "buffet" without a stall warning horn "just prior to impact." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2181Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2181Q-2014-09-16), registration cancelled 2014-09-16, S/N 177RG0581, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 177RG - Registry model: [Cessna 177RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177rg) (registry code 2073709) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1b6d) (registry code 41593, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 177RG0581 - Airframe hours: 6016 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1E6D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Debruzzi, Michael S. - Registered owner: Md Air, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 21, 1994, 7 hours before - Destination: MVE, MONTEVIDEO, MN - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,161 total, 110 in this make and model, 504 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: 210° at 5 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BJC, 15 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 19940301003159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940301003159A), Mar 1, 1994: Cessna 177RG, Longmont, CO, Substantial damage. Stalled on initial climbout. Impacted off end runway. Aircraft was covered with ice. Failed remove ice prior flite. ## Other investigations on N2181Q (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 DEN76ID013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN76ID013), Aug 29, 1975: Cessna 177 (N2181Q), Loveland, CO, incident, minor damage, 1 fatal - [NTSB MKC75FCJ37](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC75FCJ37), Nov 6, 1974: Cessna 177RG (N2181Q), Omaha, NE, 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.