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NTSB Report
March 25, 1990 · Cessna 172M · N19948
Colorado Spring, CO
Overview
Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 25, 1990
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Colorado Spring, CO
Aircraft
Cessna 172M
Tail Number
N19948
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DEN90LA079
THE PLT & HIS WIFE WERE EN ROUTE FROM MT VERNON, OH, TO COLORADO SPRINGS, CO. THEY LANDED AT MCCOOK, NE, FOR FUEL & AN UPDATED WX BRIEFING. THE PLT WAS TOLD MVFR EXISTED AT THE DESTN, BUT IT WAS FORECAST TO CLR AT HIS ETA. HE DEPD MCCOOK WITHOUT A FLT PLAN. HE SAID HE ENCTRD 'ICE IN CLEAR SKIES' & LANDED AT AKRON, CO. AFTER A 1.5 HR WAIT, HE DEPD AKRON AT 1740 MST WITH 27.2 GAL OF FUEL ON BOARD. HE ENCTRD IMC & AIRFRAME ICE NEAR COLORADO SPRINGS & DECLARED AN EMERG. APCH CONTROL VECTORED HIM FOR AN ILS RWY 35 APCH. THE 1ST APCH WAS MISSED DUE TO ICE ON THE WINDSHIELD, BUT THE PLT SAW THE RWY ON THE 2ND APCH. WHEN OVER THE RWY & ABOUT TO FLARE, HE REDUCED POWER. WITH THE EXTRA WEIGHT &LOSS OF LIFT (DUE TO ICE ACCUMULATION), THE ACFT DROPPED & LANDED HARD. THE PLT WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED, BUT HAD TAKEN THE WRITTEN INSTRUMENT TEST & WAS READY FOR THE FLT TEST. THE 1920 MST WX WAS IN PART: 200' OVC, 1/4 VIS WITH FOG, WIND FROM 150 DEG AT 6 KTS. MIN RVR FOR THE APCH WAS 2400'.
NTSB Probable Cause
THE PILOT'S DECISION TO INITIATE FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER, AND HIS IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISON. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND THE ACCUMULATION OF AIRFRAME ICE.
Full Narrative
THE PLT & HIS WIFE WERE EN ROUTE FROM MT VERNON, OH, TO COLORADO SPRINGS, CO. THEY LANDED AT MCCOOK, NE, FOR FUEL & AN UPDATED WX BRIEFING. THE PLT WAS TOLD MVFR EXISTED AT THE DESTN, BUT IT WAS FORECAST TO CLR AT HIS ETA. HE DEPD MCCOOK WITHOUT A FLT PLAN. HE SAID HE ENCTRD 'ICE IN CLEAR SKIES' & LANDED AT AKRON, CO. AFTER A 1.5 HR WAIT, HE DEPD AKRON AT 1740 MST WITH 27.2 GAL OF FUEL ON BOARD. HE ENCTRD IMC & AIRFRAME ICE NEAR COLORADO SPRINGS & DECLARED AN EMERG. APCH CONTROL VECTORED HIM FOR AN ILS RWY 35 APCH. THE 1ST APCH WAS MISSED DUE TO ICE ON THE WINDSHIELD, BUT THE PLT SAW THE RWY ON THE 2ND APCH. WHEN OVER THE RWY & ABOUT TO FLARE, HE REDUCED POWER. WITH THE EXTRA WEIGHT &LOSS OF LIFT (DUE TO ICE ACCUMULATION), THE ACFT DROPPED & LANDED HARD. THE PLT WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED, BUT HAD TAKEN THE WRITTEN INSTRUMENT TEST & WAS READY FOR THE FLT TEST. THE 1920 MST WX WAS IN PART: 200' OVC, 1/4 VIS WITH FOG, WIND FROM 150 DEG AT 6 KTS. MIN RVR FOR THE APCH WAS 2400'.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:22 MST
Nearest AirportCity Of Co Springs Muni (0nm N)
Runway35
Runway Length11021 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftCessna 172M
Tail NumberN19948
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-E2D · Reciprocating · 150
Seats4
People & Injuries
Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 45 · Third Class
Conditions
ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
Wind150° @ 6 kt
CeilingOvercast 200 ft
Temperature / Dew Point21 C / 19 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time02:20
Weather SourceWFAC