# NTSB SEA96LA221: Cessna 172M, N5459H, Cedar City, UT, October 1, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 30, 1996, 19:00 local (Oct 1, 1996, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Cedar City, UT - Coordinates: 37.590797, -113.190063 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5908&lon=-113.1901&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 3, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42470 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA96LA221 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42470/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA221 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to attain proper airspeed during takeoff, which resulted in a premature lift-off and an encounter with the terrain during the aborted landing. Excessive extension of the wing flaps was a related factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - aborted - lowering of flaps - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor) - airspeed - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - lift-off - premature, pilot in command (cause) - aborted takeoff - performed, pilot in command - stall/mush - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted ## Analysis According to the pilot, he initiated a takeoff from a private strip with what he believed was 10 degrees of flaps. After lift-off, the airplane entered a nose-up attitude, but would not gain altitude. The pilot stated that he '. . . saw no speed on airspeed indicator - decided to set it down. . .' The airplane then nosed into the ground, continued beyond the end of the airstrip, and came to a stop after sliding approximately 60 to 70 feet. Later, the pilot noted that the flaps appeared fully extended to the 40 degrees down position. Also, he noted that he must not have returned the flap switch to the neutral position, and that it did not automatically spring back. ## Factual narrative On September 30, 1996, approximately 1900 mountain daylight time, N5459H, a Cessna 172M, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from a private airstrip near Cedar City, Utah. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the flight, which had a destination of Torrance, California. There was no report of an ELT actuating. When he was interviewed after the accident, the pilot stated that he had initiated a takeoff, rotating at normal speed. The nose pitched up above normal. He lowered the nose and overran the end of the runway, damaging the fuselage and separating the left main landing gear. He stated that he believed the airplane had been loaded too far aft of the aft center of gravity point. He had 95 pounds in the baggage compartment, and had 100 pounds in the back seat area, with no passenger in the front seat. When he submitted his written accident report, the pilot noted that he believed he had selected 10 degrees of flaps for takeoff. After lift-off, he could not gain altitude and entered a nose-up attitude. He stated that he saw no speed on the airspeed indicator, and decided to "set it down" and then immediately nosed into the ground. He said the aircraft fish-tailed and came to a stop after sliding approximately 60-70 feet. He later remembered that the flaps appeared fully extended to 40 degrees down position. He noted that he must have not returned the flap switch to the neutral position, and that it did not automatically spring back. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5459H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5459H), registered now, S/N 17265452, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17265452 - Airframe hours: 5032 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jonathon E. Allen - Registered owner: Birdman, A Business Trust - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Destination: TORRANCE, CA - Airport: Hamilton Fort Ranches, runway 36, 4,100 × 30 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 191 total, 113 in this make and model, 145 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: calm - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F ## 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 19960930040649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960930040649A), Sep 30, 1996: Cessna 172M, Cedar City, UT, Substantial damage. Loaded aft of CG limits flaps fulldown. Pitched up nose high. Early liftoff. Aborted. Landed on nose. Overran runway 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.