- Date
- May 8, 1996, 10:20 local (16:20 UTC)
- Place
- Leadville, CO
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N79212Cessna 172K
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 17, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960508009589A
- Case key
- 19831
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to adequately compensate for the wind conditions and to maintain directional control. Factors were: the gusting cross wind and the pilot's lack of total experience in make and model of aircraft.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot was nearing the completion of a cross-country flight. During the landing rollout on the runway 16, the airplane encountered a gust of wind and exited the side of the runway. The airplane subsequently struck a snow bank which sheared off the nose landing gear causing the plane to nose over. The pilot reported that he had 125.8 hours of total flight experience, with 2.7 total hours in the accident airplane make and model of which 1.3 hours were as pilot-in-command. Wind at the time was from 220 at 10 knots with gusts to 21.
Factual narrative
On May 8, 1996, at 1020 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172K, N79212, operated by Glenwood Aviation, Inc., sustained substantial damage when it departed the side of the active runway during the landing rollout and nosed over. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. At the time of the accident, the personal flight was being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight departed Glenwood Springs, Colorado, at 0945. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.
The pilot said that he encountered a strong wind gust from left to right and went off the right side of the runway. While attempting to reenter the runway, the aircraft struck a snow drift which sheared off the nose wheel. The airplane then nosed over. Recorded wind at the time was from 220 degrees magnetic at 10 knots with gusts to 21 knots. The runway in use was 16.
Examination of the aircraft by an airframe and powerplant mechanic, who retrieved the aircraft, provided no evidence of structural or system failure or malfunction.
On NTSB Form 6120.1/2 the pilot listed a total flight time of 125.8, with 2.7 total hours in the accident aircraft make and model, of which 1.3 hours were as pilot in command.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N79212
- Reported as
- Cessna 172K
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17257966
- Airframe hours
- 3,257
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A4M, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Glenwood Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 3, 1996 · 73 hours before
- Departed
- GWS · Glenwood Spgs, CO
- Destination
- LXV
- Airport
- LXV · Lake County, runway 16, 6,400 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 49
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 126 total · 3 in this make and model · 101 as pilot in command · 6 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 10 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- LXV, 1 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.