Cessna 172 N27LA accident near Colorado Springs, Colorado

Probable cause

The pilot's decision to perform a touch-and-go landing at a high-density altitude airport, with a tailwind, and on an upsloping runway, which resulted in decreased airplane performance and the airplane’s inability to become airborne within the available runway.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that, during a touch-and-go landing, he applied full power to take off and, although the airplane departed the runway surface about 50 knots, it did not accelerate, and the airspeed decreased. The airplane began exhibiting characteristics consistent with a stall and he lowered the nose. The airplane then settled back onto the ground slightly off the left side of the runway surface and continued through a grassy field, a fence, and a ditch. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted, resulting in substantial damage. Witnesses reported observing the airplane in a nose-high attitude before it descended from view. The flaps were found extended to 40° at the accident site.

The density altitude at the time of the accident was about 7,386 ft, and there was an approximate 4-knot tailwind for the landing runway, which had a 1.4% upslope. According to the Federal Aviation Administration Airport/Facility directory, the opposite runway was recommended for touch-and-go landings in tailwind conditions up to 5 knots.

According to the manufacturer's takeoff performance chart, there was adequate runway available for takeoff; however, given the high-density altitude, the tailwind, and the runway upslope, the distance required to conduct a touch-and-go landing and takeoff distance were significantly increased, which resulted in the airplane’s inability to become airborne within the remaining runway.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR19TA034 for the full record.