- Date
- July 28, 2016, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place
- Rexburg, ID
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N3677SCessna 172
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 5, 2016
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20160728011709A
- Case key
- 93724
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 student pilot's failure to retract the flaps during a go-around in high density altitude conditions, resulting in the airplane's inability to climb and a subsequent collision with terrain and nose over.
Findings · 5
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 student pilot reported that while practicing short-field landings on runway 17, a 4,200 foot asphalt runway, he overshot his intended landing area. He reported that about 65 knots indicated air speed and 25 feet above ground level (AGL), he executed a go-around by applying mixture rich, full throttle, carburetor heat cold, but the electric flaps were left fully extended. He reported that he pulled back on the yoke, but he could not get the airplane to climb, and the airplane descended to the right side of the runway, and touched down in the safety area to the right of the runway and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, vertical stabilizer and the rudder. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with any portion of the airplane during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operations. Photographs of the accident airplane provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) showed the airplane inverted with the flaps extended. The airplane manufacturer pilot operating handbook prescribed Balked Landing procedure states: 1. Throttle – Full Open 2. Carburetor Heat – Cold 3. Wing Flaps - 20 Degrees (Immediately) 4. Climb Speed – 55 Knots 5. Wing Flaps 10 Degrees (Until obstacles are cleared) Retract (after reaching a safe altitude and 60 KIAS) The meteorological aerodrome report at accident airport about the time of the accident indicated: The temperature was 90 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point was 37 degrees Fahrenheit, the wind was out of 170 degrees true at 7 knots and varying between 140 degrees and 200 degrees true. The altimeter setting was 30.10. The field elevation at the airport was 4,858 feet and the density altitude was 7,850 feet. According to the FAA Pamphlet 8740-2 pertaining to Density Altitude: Whether due to high altitude, high temperature, or both, reduced air density (reported in terms of density altitude) adversely affects aerodynamic performance and decreases the engine's horsepower output. Takeoff distance, power available (in normally aspirated engines), and climb rate are all adversely affected. Landing distance is affected as well; although the indicated airspeed (IAS) remains the same, the true airspeed (TAS) increases. From the pilot's point of view, therefore, an increase in density altitude results in the following: • Increased takeoff distance. • Reduced rate of climb. • Increased TAS (but same IAS) on approach and landing. According to the aforementioned FAA Pamphlet, the Koch Chart (chart in docket) depicting the relationship between airport temperature (90 degrees) and airport pressure altitude (4,693 feet), the climb rate decreases by 64 percent. The pilot initiated the balked landing procedure at 25 feet AGL.
Factual narrative
The student pilot reported that while practicing short-field landings on runway 17, a 4,200 foot asphalt runway, he overshot his intended landing area. He reported that about 65 knots indicated air speed and 25 feet above ground level (AGL), he executed a go-around by applying mixture rich, full throttle, carburetor heat cold, but the electric flaps were left fully extended. He reported that he pulled back on the yoke, but he could not get the airplane to climb, and the airplane descended to the right side of the runway, and touched down in the safety area to the right of the runway and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, vertical stabilizer and the rudder. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with any portion of the airplane during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operations. Photographs of the accident airplane provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) showed the airplane inverted with the flaps extended. The airplane manufacturer pilot operating handbook prescribed Balked Landing procedure states: 1. Throttle – Full Open 2. Carburetor Heat – Cold 3. Wing Flaps - 20 Degrees (Immediately) 4. Climb Speed – 55 Knots 5. Wing Flaps 10 Degrees (Until obstacles are cleared) Retract (after reaching a safe altitude and 60 KIAS) The meteorological aerodrome report at accident airport about the time of the accident indicated: The temperature was 90 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point was 37 degrees Fahrenheit, the wind was out of 170 degrees true at 7 knots and varying between 140 degrees and 200 degrees true. The altimeter setting was 30.10. The field elevation at the airport was 4,858 feet and the density altitude was 7,850 feet. According to the FAA Pamphlet 8740-2 pertaining to Density Altitude: Whether due to high altitude, high temperature, or both, reduced air density (reported in terms of density altitude) adversely affects aerodynamic performance and decreases the engine's horsepower output. Takeoff distance, power available (in normally aspirated engines), and climb rate are all adversely affected. Landing distance is affected as well; although the indicated airspeed (IAS) remains the same, the true airspeed (TAS) increases. From the pilot's point of view, therefore, an increase in density altitude results in the following: • Increased takeoff distance. • Reduced rate of climb. • Increased TAS (but same IAS) on approach and landing. According to the aforementioned FAA Pamphlet, the Koch Chart (chart in docket) depicting the relationship between airport temperature (90 degrees) and airport pressure altitude (4,693 feet), the climb rate decreases by 64 percent. The pilot initiated the balked landing procedure at 25 feet AGL.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3677S
- Reported as
- Cessna 172 (E)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17250877
- Built
- 1964
- Engine
- Cont Motor 0-300, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- RXE · Rexburg, ID
- Destination
- RXE · Rexburg, ID
- Airport
- RXE · Rexburg-Madison County, runway 17, 4,204 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- None
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
- 67
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 180 total · 70 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.10 inHg
- Observed at
- KRXE
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 3, 2016, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.3 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.