CESSNA 172P
Colorado Springs, CO — March 24, 2012
Event Information
| Date | March 24, 2012 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | CEN12CA200 |
| Event ID | 20120326X00523 |
| Location | Colorado Springs, CO |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 38.96833, -104.80778 |
| Airport | US Air Force Academy Airfield |
| Highest Injury | MINR |
Aircraft
| Make | CESSNA |
| Model | 172P |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 1 |
| None | 2 |
| Total Injured | 1 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot did not maintain control of the airplane during takeoff, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent nose over.
Full Narrative
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.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.