# NTSB WPR19LA204: Cessna 162, N30321, Vernal, UT, July 29, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 29, 2019, 06:32 local (12:32 UTC)
- Place: Vernal, UT
- Coordinates: 40.448333, -109.506942 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4483&lon=-109.5069&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Textron AViation, Continental Aerospace Technologies, Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 99963
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19LA204
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99963/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99963
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA204

## Probable cause

The flight instructor's abrupt maneuver at an altitude too low for recovery, which resulted in impact with the runway.

## 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 · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 162, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=060005E), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 162, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=060005E), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 162, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=060005E), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 162, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=060005E), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 162, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=060005E), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor stated that he was demonstrating a soft field takeoff for the student pilot. While climbing away from the runway at best angle of climb, he saw a gray streak out of the corner of his eye and “immediately pitched up to avoid a wildlife strike.” The engine lost power and the pilot quickly pitched forward to lower the angle of attack; he did not recall anything further. The student reported that the airplane lifted off the runway and increased speed close to the ground when the flight instructor pulled the control stick back abruptly and the airplane climbed at an extreme angle of attack. After a few seconds of going straight up, it felt as if the airplane stalled; however, the stall warning horn never sounded. The flight instructor then pushed the nose down. As they rapidly approached the ground, the flight instructor pulled up, but the airplane impacted the ground and bounced before it came to rest. An on-scene examination revealed propeller striations on the runway surface and no indications of a birdstrike on the airframe or runway. Two different types of bird feathers were found near the runway shortly after the accident, but they were dry and likely present prior to the accident. A postaccident airframe and engine examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Damage to the propeller blades and the striations on the runway were consistent with the engine producing power at the time of impact. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the flight instructor’s abrupt maneuvering of the airplane at an altitude too low to recover and subsequent impact with the runway.

## Factual narrative

On July 29, 2019, about 0632 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 162 light sport airplane, N30321, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Vernal, Utah. The flight instructor and student pilot were seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight instructor stated that he was demonstrating a soft field takeoff for the student pilot. After competing the soft field procedure, he proceeded to show the student pilot the differences between the best angle of climb (Vx) and the best rate of climb (Vy). When he established Vx, he saw a gray streak out of the corner of his eye and “immediately pitched up to avoid a wildlife strike.” The engine lost power and the instructor pitched the airplane forward to lower the angle of attack; he did not recall anything further. The student pilot reported that the instructor started to take off. The airplane lifted off the runway and increased speed close to the ground when the instructor pulled the control stick back abruptly and the airplane climbed at an extreme angle of attack. After a few seconds of going straight up, the airplane slowed and it felt as if the airplane stalled; however, the stall warning horn never sounded. The instructor then pushed the nose down. As they rapidly approached the ground, the instructor pulled up; the airplane impacted the ground and bounced from one side of the runway to the other before it came to a rest. Witnesses reported seeing the airplane going straight up into the air. It appeared to stall and fly straight down to the ground. The airplane leveled off shortly before it impacted the ground and bounced. On-scene examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed propeller striations on the runway surface. He was unable to locate any blood, feathers, or other evidence of a bird strike on the airplane. There was a hole in the windscreen, but none of the windscreen pieces were found within the cabin area, and there was no evidence of impact with a bird on the windscreen or within the cabin area. Two different types of bird feathers were observed in the grass surrounding the runway surface and were sent to the Smithsonian Institution Feather Identification Lab. The feathers were from a Eurasian Collared Dove and Western Meadowlark; the feathers were dry. A postaccident airframe and engine examination revealed no anomalies.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N30321](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N30321-2020-03-19), registration cancelled 2020-03-19, S/N 16200102, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 162
- Registry model: [Cessna 162](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-162) (registry code 060005E) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-200-series) (registry code 17402, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 16200102
- Year built: 2011
- Airframe hours: 1053
- Engines: Continental Motors O-200D 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: H & H Versatile Services Inc
- Registered owner: H & H Versatile Services Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 26, 2019, 66 hours before
- Departed: VEL, Vernal, UT
- Destination: VEL, Vernal, UT
- Airport: VEL, Vernal Regional Airport, runway 17, 7,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; injuries: serious; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 15, 2018; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,750 total, 300 in this make and model, 1,650 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 18; injuries: serious; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 58 total, 0 in this make and model, 10 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observed at: KVEL

## 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 20190729012889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190729012889A), Jul 29, 2019: Cessna Aircraft Co 162, Vernal, UT, Substantial damage. On July 29, 2019 the pilot with a student in a light-sport aircraft took off on runway 17 at Vernal Regional Airport at 0632 local. The student was in the left…

## Docket (8 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 12, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99963. 11.5 MB in all.

- CFI - pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 250 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9249728&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CFI_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Student pilot information and statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9249860&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20student%20information_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Witness statements a�� courtesy of the uintah fire district (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8668205&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20Statements%20from%20fire%20dept_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of conversation - FAA onscene observations (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8669052&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20FAA%20On%20scene-Rel.pdf
- Record of email - regarding feathers (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8560375&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROE%20Feather%20Conversations-Rel.pdf
- Airframe and engine examination observations (item 6, PDF, 14 pages, 5.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8670354&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airframe%20and%20Engine%20Examination%20-Rel.pdf
- Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 7, PDF, 2 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8646471&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=party%20form%20textron_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 536 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13370313&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=wreckage%20release%20final%20printed_Redacted-Rel.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.

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