Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary CEN12CA200

Colorado Springs, CO, USA

Aircraft #1

N97LP

CESSNA 172P

Analysis

The pilot reported that he rotated the airplane at 55 knots and that it immediately started to drift. He heard the stall warning horn so he lowered the nose. The airplane subsequently impacted the ground, and the pilot pulled the throttle to idle. The airplane was approaching the crossing runway, and there was a hump or ditch near the runway edge. The pilot pulled back on the controls to avoid the obstacle, and the airplane became airborne and climbed to about 10 to 15 feet above the ground. The airplane then landed hard and bounced. The nose landing gear impacted the dirt and the airplane nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wind during takeoff was “slightly from the right” at 9 knots gusting to 13 knots.

Factual Information

The pilot reported that he rotated the airplane at 55 knots and it immediately started to drift. He heard the stall warning horn so he lowered the nose, and the airplane subsequently impacted the ground. He pulled the throttle to idle. The airplane was approaching the crossing runway and there was a hump or ditch near the runway edge. He pulled back on the controls to avoid the obstacle, and the airplane became airborne and climbed to about 10 to 15 feet above the ground. The airplane landed hard and bounced. The nose landing gear caught in the dirt and the airplane nosed over which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure of the airplane. The pilot reported that the wind during takeoff was “slightly from the right” at 9 knots gusting to 13 knots.

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot did not maintain control of the airplane during takeoff, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent nose over.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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