# NTSB FTW98LA166: Cessna 172F, N7894U, Fort Collins, CO, March 31, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 31, 1998, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Fort Collins, CO - Coordinates: 40.550239, -105.059906 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5502&lon=-105.0599&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 8, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20566 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98LA166 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20566/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA166 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper in flight planning/decision in electing to land with a known 30 knot tailwind. Factors were high winds and a tailwind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - inadvertent, pilot in command ## Analysis While practicing landings, the newly certificated private pilot encountered an increase in wind and a change of wind direction while in the pattern. He aborted his flight and conducted his final landing on the runway he had used for departure although the wind had shifted 180 degrees which created a tailwind of 30 knots. The aircraft porpoised during landing, and the second touchdown was hard causing substantial damage. ## Factual narrative On March 31, 1998, at 1230 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172F, N7894U, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing at Fort Collins Downtown Airpark, Fort Collins, Colorado. The private pilot and sole occupant was not injured on this local, no flight plan, flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at 1215. According to the pilot, he received his private pilot certificate on March 24, 1998. He was intending to fly in the pattern to practice landings. After takeoff, with the winds light and variable, he got to pattern altitude, and found the winds were high and he decided to terminate the flight. After departing the pattern due to strong winds which he said made it impractical to align with the runway on his first attempt, he retlurned to the pattern and landed on runway 11 which was also his departure runway. According to witnesses, when the landing was being performed, the winds were from the northwest at about 30 knots. The nearest reporting station (approximately 10 miles to the south) was reporting winds from 200 degrees magnetic at 10 knots. In his statement and interview, the pilot acknowledged that he was aware of strong tail winds. The pilot said his initial touch down was not hard but, due to the tail wind, the aircraft porpoised and the second touch down was "very hard. " He said he did not discern any damage and taxied to the ramp. The damage was discovered when the aircraft was examined after the flight. As a result of this event, the propeller, lower firewall, nose landing gear bulkhead, lower forward fuselage skins, forward side skins, and forward floorboards had to be replaced. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7894U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7894U), registered now, S/N 17251894, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172F - Registry model: [Cessna 172F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (registry code 2072414) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172-51894 - Airframe hours: 4883 - Engines: Continental O-300C 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot Center - Registered owner: Bob Faris - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 4, 1998, 52 hours before - Departed: 3V5 - Airport: 3V5, Fort Collins Downtown, runway 11, 4,699 × 48 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 69 total, 69 in this make and model, 28 as pilot in command, 62 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: FNL, 10 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 19980331004899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980331004899A), Mar 31, 1998: Cessna 172F, Fort Collins, CO, Substantial damage. Variable gusty wind on takeoff. Windshear downwind. Landed in 20KT tailwind. Bounced. Porpoised. Damaged firewall. (.4)while practicing landings, the newly… 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.