# NTSB GAA15CA136: Cessna 172H, N2536L, Cottonwood Falls, KS, June 6, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 6, 2015, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Cottonwood Falls, KS - Coordinates: 38.358055, -96.543891 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3581&lon=-96.5439&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 11, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Wichita FSDO (FAA) - NTSB case key (mKey): 91433 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA136 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91433/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91433 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA136 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain adequate airspeed to climb the airplane out of ground effect, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and a collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible; cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he departed from a soft grass runway and used the entire runway length. During the takeoff roll, the airplane accelerated much slower than what he was used to in the soft grass, but still believed he would have enough airspeed to climb. After clearing a fence at the end of the runway, he reported the flight controls felt "mushy," the right wing dropped, and the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall. During the stall the right wing impacted the terrain and the airplane came to rest in a field upright. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. During a post-accident inspection, a Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspector reported the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he departed from a soft grass runway and used the entire runway length. During the takeoff roll, the airplane accelerated much slower than what he was used to in the soft grass, but still believed he would have enough airspeed to climb. After clearing a fence at the end of the runway, he reported the flight controls felt "mushy," the right wing dropped, and the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall. During the stall the right wing impacted the terrain and the airplane came to rest in a field upright. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. During a post-accident inspection, a Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspector reported the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2536L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2536L), registered now, S/N 17255736, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172H (H) - Registry model: [Cessna 172H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172h) (registry code 2072424) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17255736 - Year built: 1966 - Airframe hours: 2180.57 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-300D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 25, 2015 - Departed: 9K0, Cottonwood Falls, KS - Destination: 53K, OSAGE CITY, KS - Airport: 9K0, Cottonwood Falls, runway 17, 2,300 × 155 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Stall warning system, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; private, recreational; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 29, 2014; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 592 total, 497 in this make and model, 549 as pilot in command, 3.5 in the last 90 days, 2.2 in the last 30 days, 0.6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KEMP, 17 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 20150606011229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150606011229A), Jun 6, 2015: Cessna 172H, Cottonwood Fall, KS, Substantial damage. The pilot attempted to takeoff from a 2300 turf strip. The runway was wet from previous rains and the aircraft's take off acceleration was slowed, due to an… ## Other investigations on N2536L (1) 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 CHI69D0219](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI69D0219), Sep 2, 1968: Cessna 172 (N2536L), Newaygo, MI, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 29, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91433. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 660 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429943&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation (FAA Inspector) (item 2, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429944&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(FAA%20Inspector)-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (Pilot in Command) (item 3, .PDF, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429945&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot%20in%20Command)-Master.PDF - Photo 1 – Right Wing (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 269 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429946&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Right%20Wing%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF 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.