Cessna 172R N9548A

Summary

On 23 October 1999 at about 18:48 local time, a Cessna 172R registered N9548A, operated by Pikes Peak Pilot Center, was involved in an accident near Aspen, Colorado, United States. 3 people were on board and one died, 2 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

23 October 1999 at 18:48

Classification

Accident

Location

Aspen, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

39.1902, -106.8192

Aircraft

Cessna 172R

Registration

N9548A

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Pikes Peak Pilot Center

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Colo. Springs

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN00FA009

1 person died.

the pilot's improper decision to fly directly up the center of the valley and not circle climb to gain sufficient terrain clearance altitude. A factor was inadequate route performance planning by the pilot.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Following takeoff on the return leg of a cross-country flight, the pilot flew directly up a valley, which required the aircraft to climb from the airport altitude of 7,815 feet to clear a pass 12,095 feet high in 19 miles. The temperature was 20 degrees above standard and the distance to climb was calculated from the performance section of the flight manual to be 28.6 miles. The pilot flew up the center of the valley and when the terrain out climbed the aircraft, she had insufficient space to do a reversal. A witnessed forced landing was made on the side of a mountain, above timberline, at 11,948 feet elevation. The upslope was 19 degrees and the side slope was 7 degrees. The terrain was rough and rocky.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.