# NTSB FTW95LA079: Cessna 177B, N30898, Torreon, NM, January 1, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 1, 1995, 07:35 local (14:35 UTC)
- Place: Torreon, NM
- Coordinates: 34.7191, -106.290298 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7191&lon=-106.2903&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 23, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19332
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA079
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19332/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA079

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN PROPER LIFTOFF SPEED RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AND THE FAILURE TO REMOVE FROST FROM THE WING. A FACTOR WAS FATIGUE.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command
  - ice/frost removal from aircraft - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - fatigue(lack of sleep), pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed(vr) - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE STALLED WHILE THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF FROM A DIRT AIRSTRIP WITH FROST ON ITS WING. THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED OUT OF GROUND EFFECT WITHOUT SUFFICIENT FLYING SPEED AND THE PILOT RAISED THE FLAPS PREMATURELY. THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE PILOT HAD NOT SLEPT FOR OVER 24 HOURS.

## Factual narrative

On January 1, 1995, at 0735 mountain standard time, a Cessna 177B, N30898, was substantially damaged during takeoff near Torreon, New Mexico.  The private pilot and his passanger were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross country flight.

The enclosed Pilot/Operator report stated the following information.  The pilot had been awake for "over 24 hours."  The weather was good for flying, but very cold.  "The dirt runway was frozen rock hard."  The pilot performed a soft field takeoff in an attempt to protect his nose gear from the rough frozen dirt runway.  This was done by using flaps and by rotating the front landing gear off the ground as soon as possible on the takeoff roll.  The aircraft lifted into the air and the pilot continued maintaining the aircraft in this attitude above ground effect without allowing the aircraft to accelerate to flying speed.  At this same monent, the pilot raised his flaps.  With flaps retracting "lift was lost," and the airplane subsequently stalled, impacting the ground.

The pilot reported to the NTSB investigator-in-charge, that after the accident, he examined the upper wing surface much more closely.  He discovered that there was a thin "uniform pockmark matrix" of frost over most of the wing.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N30898](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N30898-1996-11-05), registration cancelled 1996-11-05, S/N 17701535 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177B
- Registry model: [Cessna 177B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177b) (registry code 2073708) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17701535
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1F6 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Mosley, William
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: NONE
- Destination: FLG, FLAGSTAFF, AZ
- Airport: E93, Torreon, runway 17, 2,386 × 45 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 464 total, 100 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Wind: 15° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 16 °F, dew point 10 °F
- Observed at: 4SL, 20 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 19950101000079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950101000079A), Jan 1, 1995: Cessna 177B, Cuba, NM, Substantial damage. Rotated behind power curve due rough runway. Failed lower nose. Stalled. Failed remove frost and density altitude.

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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