# NTSB FTW95LA110: Cessna 172M, N80893, Boulder, CO, February 6, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 6, 1995, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Boulder, CO - Coordinates: 40.019958, -105.250579 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0200&lon=-105.2506&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 9, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19351 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA110 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19351/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA110 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S PREMATURE ROTATION. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, takeoff - aborted - running takeoff - initiated, pilot in command - rotation - premature, pilot in command (cause) - aborted takeoff - performed, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis THE PILOT RELATED TO A FAA INSPECTOR THAT HE MADE A 'ROLLING TAKEOFF,' SLOWLY INCREASING POWER TO FULL THROTTLE. WHEN THE AIRPLANE ATTAINED AN INDICATED AIRSPEED OF 60 KNOTS, HE FELT THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT ACCELERATING RAPIDLY ENOUGH AND HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF. HE APPLIED MAXIMUM BRAKING AND THE RIGHT MAIN TIRE BLEW OUT. THE AIRPLANE WENT OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY, ACROSS THE RUNWAY OVERRUN, WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT, AND COLLIDED WITH A DITCH. IN HIS WRITTEN STATEMENT, HE REPORTED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF THE AIRPLANE 'HAD INSUFFICIENT POWER TO LEAVE GROUND EFFECT.' HE ALSO INDICATED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS. ## Factual narrative On February 6, 1995, approximately 1330 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172M, N80893, was substantially damaged during an aborted takeoff at Boulder, Colorado. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot reported the following information to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. He made a "rolling takeoff" on the 4100 foot runway, slowly increasing power to full throttle. When the airplane attained an indicated airspeed of 60 knots, he felt the airplane was not accelerating rapidly enough and he aborted the takeoff. He applied maximum braking and the right main tire blew out. The airplane went off the end of the runway, across the runway overrun, down an embankment, and collided with a ditch. The right main landing gear and engine were torn off the airplane. Witness reports corroborated this account. In his pilot/operator report, the pilot said that "after normal rotation, the plane had insufficient power to leave ground effect." In that same report, he also indicated that there were no mechanical malfunctions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N80893](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N80893-2012-01-05), registration cancelled 2012-01-05, S/N 17266791, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17266791 - Airframe hours: 8827 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Dakota Ridge Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 11, 1994, 55 hours before - Departed: 1V5 - Destination: 1V5, CO - Airport: 1V5, Boulder Municipal, runway 8R, 4,100 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 140 total, 62 in this make and model, 92 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 25 knots - Visibility: 75 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BJC, 9 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 19950206001229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950206001229A), Feb 6, 1995: Cessna 172M, Boulder, CO, Substantial damage. Slow acceleration unable climb. Aborted. Blew tire heavy braking. Ran off end of runway into a ditch. Early liftoff ## Other investigations on N80893 (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 DEN92LA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN92LA009), Nov 20, 1991: Cessna 172N (N80893), Boulder, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE SIGN. - [NTSB DEN89LA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA143), Jun 20, 1989: Cessna 172M (N80893), Boulder, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS BY THE (PRIVATE RATED) DUAL STUDENT AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE, AND INADEQUATE… 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.