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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

January 27, 1992 · Cessna 172P · N52872

Englewood, CO

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 27, 1992
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Englewood, CO
Aircraft
Cessna 172P
Tail Number
N52872
Operator
P C Flyers
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DEN92LA027

The CFI was demonstrating a soft field takeoff. After lift-off the airplane settled back to the runway, then became airborne again. Control was lost, and the airplane settled into terrain adjacent to the runway. No discrepancies were found during the wreckage examination. The left flap was found deployed to about 10 deg due to impact damage, and the follow-up cable was slack. The remainder of the flap system was intact. This is consistent with flaps being in the up position at impact. Flaps are electrically driven through a jack screw to the right flap. The left flap is driven by a follow-up cable through the right flap jack screw; therefore the left flap cannot be driven to a position to which the right flap is not driven. The right flap was found in the up position. The recommended flap setting for a short field takeoff is 10 deg. According to the FAA Flight Training Handbook, during soft field takeoff the airplane can become airborne at an airspeed below safe climb speed due to the action of ground effect.

NTSB Probable Cause

A LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROPER SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF PROCEDURES BY FLYING OUT OF GROUND EFFECT AT AN INADEQUATE AIRSPEED. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF FLAPS.

Full Narrative

THE CFI WAS DEMONSTRATING A SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF. AFTER LIFT-OFF THE AIRPLANE SETTLED BACK TO THE RUNWAY, THEN BECAME AIRBORNE AGAIN. CONTROL WAS LOST, AND THE AIRPLANE SETTLED INTO TERRAIN ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY. NO DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND DURING THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION. THE LEFT FLAP WAS FOUND DEPLOYED TO ABOUT 10 DEG DUE TO IMPACT DAMAGE, AND THE FOLLOW-UP CABLE WAS SLACK. THE REMAINDER OF THE FLAP SYSTEM WAS INTACT. THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH FLAPS BEING IN THE UP POSITION AT IMPACT. FLAPS ARE ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN THROUGH A JACK SCREW TO THE RIGHT FLAP. THE LEFT FLAP IS DRIVEN BY A FOLLOW-UP CABLE THROUGH THE RIGHT FLAP JACK SCREW; THEREFORE THE LEFT FLAP CANNOT BE DRIVEN TO A POSITION TO WHICH THE RIGHT FLAP IS NOT DRIVEN. THE RIGHT FLAP WAS FOUND IN THE UP POSITION. THE RECOMMENDED FLAP SETTING FOR A SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF IS 10 DEG. ACCORDING TO THE FAA FLIGHT TRAINING HANDBOOK, DURING SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF THE AIRPLANE CAN BECOME AIRBORNE AT AN AIRSPEED BELOW SAFE CLIMB SPEED DUE TO THE ACTION OF GROUND EFFECT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:47 MST
Nearest AirportCentennia (0nm)
Runway17
Runway Length10000 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172P
Tail NumberN52872
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorP C Flyers
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-D2J · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 44 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind10° @ 4 kt
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point39 C / 28 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data