Cessna P172D N8562X

Summary

On 8 April 1989 at about 19:00 local time, a Cessna P172D registered N8562X was involved in an accident near Crested Butte, Colorado, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 April 1989 at 19:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Crested Butte, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Crested Butte (3V6)

Coordinates

38.8698, -106.9792

Aircraft

Cessna P172D

Registration

N8562X

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN89LA103

2 people had minor injuries.

THE PILOT SELECTED A RUNWAY WITH UNSUITABLE CONDITIONS FOR TAKING OFF. THE UNFAVORABLE WIND AND TERRAIN CONDITIONS WERE RELATED FACTORS.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLT & A FRIEND FLEW TO ANOTHER ARPT IN THE LOCAL AREA. AFTER ARRIVING AT THAT ARPT, THE PLT CHECKED THE WIND SOCK & ELECTED TO LAND ON RWY 11. DRG THE LANDING, THE ACFT ENCTRD SNOW ON THE RWY THAT WAS DEEPER THAN EXPECTED. DUE TO THE SLOPE OF THE RWY, THE PLT ELECTED TO TAKE OFF IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION (DOWNHILL) WITH A SLIGHT TAILWIND. THE ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE, BUT WOULD ONLY CLIMB ABOUT 5 FT. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT HIT A 6 FT SNOW BANK & NOSED OVER. THE PLT STATED THAT HE THOUGHT THE ACDNT OCCURRED DUE TO WIND GUSTS FROM BEHIND & THE ACFT HITTING DRIFTS THAT SLOWED IT DOWN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.