ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 144555
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| Date: | Friday 23 March 2012 |
| Time: | 11:43 |
| Type: |  Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP |
| Owner/operator: | McAir Aviation LLC |
| Registration: | N10468 |
| MSN: | 172S9817 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2005 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 1955 hours |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Colorado Highway 119 and East County Line Road, Longmont, CO -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Training |
| Departure airport: | Broomfield, CO (BJC) |
| Broomfield, CO (BJC) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Radar track data depicted the accident airplanes (a Cessna 180, N9325C and a Cessna 172S, N10468) on gradually converging flight paths prior to the accident. Immediately before the collision, the Cessna 172 appeared to be on a north-northeast course in level flight at 7,200 feet mean sea level (msl), and the Cessna 180 was in a gradual climb from 6,800 feet msl to 7,000 feet msl on a north course. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, with reported visibilities at 60 miles. Neither pilot was receiving air traffic control advisories at the time of the collision. The radar track associated with the Cessna 180 indicated that after the collision the airplane entered a 270-degree right turn before proceeding to the west. The Cessna 172 continued northbound, as it entered a descent and impacted the ground.
The pilot of the Cessna 180 airplane stated that she heard a loud bang during cruise flight and the airplane immediately pitched up and rolled into right bank. She subsequently determined that elevator control was limited. The pilot attempted to divert to a local airport, but was unable to land on a runway due to the impaired airplane control. She executed a forced landing to an open area adjacent to the airport. A witness reported that the right horizontal stabilizer of the Cessna 180 appeared to be bent down about 90 degrees at mid-span as the airplane approached for the forced landing. The outboard portion of the right horizontal stabilizer of the Cessna 180 airplane was structurally compromised, which resulted in a nearly complete loss of pitch control. The pilot of the Cessna 180 airplane retained marginal pitch control by varying engine power during the remainder of the flight.
A postaccident examination did not reveal any pre-collision failures or malfunctions associated with either airplane. The examination determined that the left aileron/wing of the Cessna 172 likely contacted the right horizontal stabilizer of the Cessna 180 in flight. The outboard portion of the left wing on the Cessna 172 was structurally compromised, rendering the airplane uncontrollable. Regulations required that each person operating an aircraft maintain vigilance so as to "see and avoid other aircraft."
Probable Cause: The inadequate visual lookout by the pilots of both airplanes, which resulted in a mid-air collision.
Sources:
NTSB
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 23-Mar-2012 13:56 | harro | Added |
| 23-Mar-2012 19:59 | RobertMB | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Location, Narrative] |
| 23-Mar-2012 20:22 | RobertMB | Updated [Aircraft type, Nature, Narrative] |
| 24-Mar-2012 06:32 | RobertMB | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Phase, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 26-Mar-2012 09:48 | Geno | Updated [Registration, Cn, Operator, Nature, Source] |
| 26-Mar-2012 13:38 | RobertMB | Updated [Time, Source] |
| 03-Apr-2012 12:47 | Geno | Updated [Time, Source, Narrative] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:26 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 27-Nov-2017 20:25 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Operator, Other fatalities, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
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