Cessna 172Q N65963

Summary

On 14 August 1996 at about 17:30 local time, a Cessna 172Q registered N65963, operated by Cothron Aviation, was involved in an accident near Kayenta, Arizona, United States. 3 people were on board and one 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

14 August 1996 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Kayenta, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Kayenta (0V7)

Coordinates

36.6399, -110.1803

Aircraft

Cessna 172Q

Registration

N65963

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Cothron Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Albuquerque

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX96LA306

1 person had minor injuries.

the pilot's failure to adhere to the manufacturer's performance data by not maintaining the recommended best rate of climb speed, resulting in an inadvertent stall/mush event. The high density altitude was a related factor.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he had refueled the aircraft at Grand Canyon airport, and then flew to Kayenta. He said that during the takeoff initial climb from Kayenta, he was maintaining between 40 and 45 knots indicated airspeed, but the aircraft would not climb. He lowered the nose to gain airspeed, but had to maneuver around a power plant, and then the aircraft struck the ground. Available data showed that at the airplane's estimated takeoff gross weight, the stall speed would be about 43 knots indicated airspeed (about 57 knots calibrated airspeed). The density altitude was about 9,000 feet.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.