# NTSB SEA92FA075: Cessna 172P, N63078, Englewood, CO, April 12, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 11, 1992, 21:38 local (Apr 12, 1992, 03:38 UTC)
- Place: Englewood, CO
- Coordinates: 39.579105, -104.860702 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5791&lon=-104.8607&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 17, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41573
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA92FA075
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41573/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA92FA075

## Probable cause

A LOSS OF AIRPLANE CONTROL INITIATED BY INADVERTENT CONTROL INTERFERENCE BY THE PASSENGER PILOT WHILE APPARENTLY ATTEMPTING TO QUELL A DISTURBANCE OF AN UNKNOWN NATURE. AS A RESULT, THE PILOT DID NOT, OR WAS UNABLE TO, MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE TO PREVENT A STALL/SPIN. A FACTOR WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DARK NIGHT CONDITION.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - control interference - inadvertent, pilot passenger (cause)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)

## Analysis

IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM RWY 17L THE PILOT REQUESTED AN '...IMMEDIATE LANDING...' ON RWY 35R. APRX 17 SECS LATER, IN RESPONSE TO THE TOWER'S QUERY, THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT PAX (24-HR STUDENT PLT) VERIFIED BY RADIO THE FLIGHT'S INTENTION. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED IN A 180 DEG LEFT TURN IMMEDIATELY AFTER CROSSING THE UPWIND END OF THE RWY. IT STALLED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND 400 FT SHORT OF RWY 35R. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED APRX 150-200 FT AGL AFTER CLEARING THE DEPARTURE END OF THE 10,000-FT RWY. THE FRONT SEAT PAX'S WIFE & 2 INFANT DAUGHTERS WERE IN THE REAR; HIS SEAT BELT AND SHOULDER HARNESS WAS FOUND UNATTACHED. THE FRONT SEAT PAX INJURIES INCLUDED LARGE LACERATIONS TO POSTERIOR ASPECTS OF THE BACK AND RIGHT ELBOW. THE FRONT SEAT PAX WEIGHED 240 LBS; THE PLT WEIGHED 150 LBS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N63078](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N63078-1994-08-03), registration cancelled 1994-08-03, S/N 17275389 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17275389
- Airframe hours: 3336
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Wings Of Denver Flying Club
- Registered owner: Bauer, Daniel J.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 25, 1992, 48 hours before
- Airport: APA, Centennial, runway 17L, 10,001 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 409 total, 350 in this make and model, 350 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 100° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: APA, 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19920411009609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920411009609A), Apr 11, 1992: Cessna 172P, Denver, CO, Destroyed, 5 fatal. Trouble in cockpit declared emergency. Stall spin on final. Passenger problem caused control loss. Dark a factor.

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.

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