# NTSB FTW94LA251: Cessna 172N, N739VN, Englewood, CO, July 27, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 27, 1994, 08:18 local (14:18 UTC) - Place: Englewood, CO - Coordinates: 39.580715, -104.859024 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5807&lon=-104.8590&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 26, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19124 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA251 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19124/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA251 ## Probable cause AN INADVERTENT STALL. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S EXCESSIVE FLARE. ## 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 - flare - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE STUDENT PILOT WAS PLANNING TO PRACTICE TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS. HE SAID HIS LANDING APPROACH WAS NORMAL. AS HE FLARED FOR THE LANDING, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO CLIMB SO HE ADDED POWER TO AVOID STALLING. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED CLIMBING AND THE STALL WARNING HORN SOUNDED. THE PILOT SAID HE THOUGHT HE APPLIED FULL POWER AND REMEMBERED THE AIRPLANE DRIFTING LEFT OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND NEXT TO THE RUNWAY AND NOSED OVER. ## Factual narrative On July 27, 1994, at 0818 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N739VN, was destroyed during an attempted landing at Centennial Airport, Englewood, Colorado. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The following is based on the pilot/operator report. The pilot said he was going to practice touch-and-go landings. His landing approach was normal. As he flared for the landing, the airplane began to climb so he added power to avoid stalling. The airplane continued climbing and the stall warning horn sounded. The pilot thought he applied full power and remembered the airplane drifting left of the runway. The airplane struck the ground next to the runway and nosed over. Witnesses corroborated the pilot's statement. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N739VN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N739VN), registered now, S/N 17270842, built 1978 (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: 17270842 - Airframe hours: 2480 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: P.C. Flyers, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 24, 1994, 3 hours before - Airport: APA, Centennial, runway 17R, 7,003 × 77 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 19; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 72 total, 72 in this make and model, 14 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 5 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: APA ## 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 19940727019599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940727019599A), Jul 27, 1994: Cessna 172N, Denver, CO, Destroyed. Flared nose high began climb added partial power to avoid stall. Drifted settled off side runway. Nosed over. ## Other investigations on N739VN (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 CHI02LA236](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA236), Aug 4, 2002: Cessna 172N (N739VN), Sidney, NE, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot not maintaining sufficient airspeed during the takeoff, and the inadvertent stall encountered by the pilot. The low altitude was a factor. - [NTSB CHI91LA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91LA023), Nov 3, 1990: Cessna 172 (N739VN), Fort Scott, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE MIXTURE CONTROL WAS SET INCORRECTLY RESULTING IN FUEL STARVATION, AND THE CHECK LIST WAS NOT FOLLOWED BY THE CFI/PIC. 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.