Cessna 172RG N9431D

Summary

On 6 June 1996 at about 18:20 local time, a Cessna 172RG registered N9431D, operated by Altitudes Flight Training, Inc, was involved in an accident near Leadville, Colorado, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 June 1996 at 18:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Leadville, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Lake County (LXV)

Coordinates

39.2397, -106.2906

Aircraft

Cessna 172RG

Registration

N9431D

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Altitudes Flight Training, Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Englewood

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW96LA238

3 people were seriously injured.

Inadequate preflight planning and preparation and failure to follow aircraft operating procedures and directives. Factors were high density altitude, inadequate training of the flight instructor and insufficient standards and requirements for flight instructor training in mountain flying.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

Before takeoff from a high altitude (9,927 feet above msl, 12,400 feet density altitude) airport on a mountain flying training flight, the CFI noted that the airport elevation was higher than the takeoff data charts provided for. During takeoff, the aircraft was rotated and settled back to the ground three times during takeoff roll. On the fourth rotation, which was at the departure end of the runway, the aircraft became airborne and descended down the side of an incline where it struck a power line and came to rest in a flat rocky area. All three occupants exited the aircraft with injuries. The investigation provided information that the airport elevation was above the highest altitude provided on the takeoff data charts, the mixture was not leaned in accordance with the procedures in the manual, and the flaps were not set in the proper setting for the type of takeoff being conducted. In addition, the investigation provided information that the flight instructor had received no formal mountain flying training, that there are no FAA approved mountain flying training courses, and to act as an instructor in mountain flying no specialized training is required.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.