# NTSB WPR19TA034: Cessna 172, N27LA, Colorado Springs, CO, November 20, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Final report - Date: November 20, 2018, 09:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Colorado Springs, CO - Coordinates: 38.940555, -104.568611 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9406&lon=-104.5686&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 98714 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19TA034 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98714/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19TA034 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to perform a touch-and-go landing at a high-density altitude airport, with a tailwind, and on an upsloping runway, which resulted in decreased airplane performance and the airplane’s inability to become airborne within the available runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause) - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: high density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during a touch-and-go landing, he applied full power to take off and, although the airplane departed the runway surface about 50 knots, it did not accelerate, and the airspeed decreased. The airplane began exhibiting characteristics consistent with a stall and he lowered the nose. The airplane then settled back onto the ground slightly off the left side of the runway surface and continued through a grassy field, a fence, and a ditch. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted, resulting in substantial damage. Witnesses reported observing the airplane in a nose-high attitude before it descended from view. The flaps were found extended to 40° at the accident site. The density altitude at the time of the accident was about 7,386 ft, and there was an approximate 4-knot tailwind for the landing runway, which had a 1.4% upslope. According to the Federal Aviation Administration Airport/Facility directory, the opposite runway was recommended for touch-and-go landings in tailwind conditions up to 5 knots. According to the manufacturer's takeoff performance chart, there was adequate runway available for takeoff; however, given the high-density altitude, the tailwind, and the runway upslope, the distance required to conduct a touch-and-go landing and takeoff distance were significantly increased, which resulted in the airplane’s inability to become airborne within the remaining runway. ## Factual narrative On November 20, 2018, about 0930 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172 airplane, N27LA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Colorado Springs, Colorado. The commercial pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that, after departure, they flew to a different airport and conducted three uneventful touch-and-go landings. He then proceeded to the accident airport and performed a straight-in approach to runway 33. He approached the runway at a normal speed of 60 knots with the flaps fully down and the "mixture set appropriately for the 7,000-ft field elevation"; he did not apply carburetor heat. The airplane landed, and he added full power, raised the flaps, and raised the nose to take off. The airplane became airborne about 50 knots but did not accelerate; instead, the airspeed decreased to about 45 knots. The airplane began exhibiting characteristics consistent with a stall, and he lowered the nose. The airplane settled back onto the ground slightly off the left side of the runway surface and rolled through a grassy field, a fence, and impacted a ditch. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Witnesses reported observing the airplane in a nose-high attitude before it descended from view. Shortly thereafter, they observed people running toward the airplane. Examination conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the flaps were fully extended. The flap indicator in the cockpit displayed 40°. Weather about the time of the accident was reported as wind from 130° at 4 knots, temperature 9°C, dewpoint -11°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.26 inches of mercury, which corresponded to a density altitude of about 7,386 ft. According to the FAA Airport/Facility Directory, "runway 15 is recommended for takeoff, touch and go landings when effective tailwind is less than 5 knots". The directory stated that runway 33 had an upslope of 1.4%. Runway 15/33 was 60 ft wide and about 6,000 ft long. The takeoff performance chart in the 172M Pilot Operating Handbook indicates the following airplane configuration and environmental conditions during takeoff: Flaps up; full throttle prior to brake release; zero wind; and a paved, level, dry runway. The notes section stated, "for operation with tailwinds up to 10 knots, increase distances by 10% for each 2 knots." It further stated, "prior to takeoff from fields above 3,000 feet elevation, the mixture should be leaned to give maximum RPM in a full throttle, static runup." ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N27LA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N27LA), registered now, S/N 17265689, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (M) - 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: 17265689 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 9188 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kingdom, Power, and Glory LLC, doing business as Peak Aviation - Registered owner: Good Guys Finish First Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 19, 2018, 66 hours before - Departed: COS, Colorado Spring, CO - Destination: COS, Colorado Spring, CO - Airport: FLY, Meadow Lake Airport, runway 33, 6,000 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 3, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,156 total, 36 in this make and model, 2,777 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: FLY ## 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 20181120024529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181120024529A), Nov 20, 2018: Cessna 172M, Peyton, CO, Substantial damage. After lift-off aircraft N27LA aircraft descended left wingtip impacted terrain aircraft then landed on wheels; rolled across taxiway through a fence and into a… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.