N97LP

Substantial
Minor

CESSNA 172PS/N: 17274398

Accident Details

Date
Saturday, March 24, 2012
NTSB Number
CEN12CA200
Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Event ID
20120326X00523
Coordinates
38.968334, -104.807777
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
1
Uninjured
2
Total Aboard
3

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.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N97LP
Make
CESSNA
Serial Number
17274398
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1980
Model / ICAO
172PC172
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AERO CLUB
Address
9222 AIRFIELD DR
Status
Deregistered
City
USAF ACADEMY
State / Zip Code
CO 80840-2098
Country
United States

Analysis

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.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN12CA200