- Date
- January 30, 2016, 18:15 local (Jan 31, 2016, 01:15 UTC)
- Place
- La Junta, CO
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2567UCessna 172
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Status
- Completed · report May 3, 2016
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20160130004289A
- Case key
- 92852
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 decision to take off with a tailwind, and exceed the critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with the ground.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that during a night takeoff, shortly after the airplane lifted off the runway, he "felt a force" on the tail. He further reported that the angle of attack changed to an "extreme angle", the airspeed decreased, and the stall warning horn was audible. Subsequently the left wing impacted the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. According to the pilot there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport revealed that, at the time of the accident, conditions were wind 30 degrees at 19 knots, wind gust 27 knots. The airplane was departing on runway 26.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that during a night takeoff, shortly after the airplane lifted off the runway, he "felt a force" on the tail. He further reported that the angle of attack changed to an "extreme angle", the airspeed decreased, and the stall warning horn was audible. Subsequently the left wing impacted the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. According to the pilot there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport revealed that, at the time of the accident, conditions were wind 30 degrees at 19 knots, wind gust 27 knots. The airplane was departing on runway 26.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2567U
- Reported as
- Cessna 172 (D)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17250167
- Built
- 1963
- Airframe hours
- 3,872.1
- Engine
- Continental O-300-D, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Kevin Huckabee
- Registered owner
- Philip D. Howard
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 3, 2015
- Departed
- LHX · La Junta, CO
- Destination
- COS · Colorado Springs, CO
- Airport
- LHX · La Junta Muni, runway 26, 6,849 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Handheld GPS, Stall warning system
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
- 44
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- December 22, 2015
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 67 total · 67 in this make and model · 26 as pilot in command · 23 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Wind
- 30° at 19 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 48 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.53 inHg
- Observed at
- KLHX
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 29, 2016, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.9 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.