Cessna 172 N2567U

Summary

On 31 January 2016 at about 01:15 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N2567U, operated by Kevin Huckabee, was involved in an accident near La Junta, Colorado, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 January 2016 at 01:15

Classification

Accident

Location

La Junta, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

La Junta Muni (LHX)

Coordinates

38.0481, -103.5128

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N2567U

Category

Airplane

Year built

1963

Engines

1

Operator

Kevin Huckabee

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

La Junta → Colorado Springs

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

GAA16CA150

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's decision to take off with a tailwind, and exceed the critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with the ground.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during a night takeoff, shortly after the airplane lifted off the runway, he "felt a force" on the tail. He further reported that the angle of attack changed to an "extreme angle", the airspeed decreased, and the stall warning horn was audible. Subsequently the left wing impacted the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. According to the pilot there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport revealed that, at the time of the accident, conditions were wind 30 degrees at 19 knots, wind gust 27 knots. The airplane was departing on runway 26.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.