Cessna 172 N53432

Summary

On 29 August 2019 at about 02:10 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N53432, operated by Rocky Mountain Flight School, was involved in an accident near Denver, Colorado, United States. One person was 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

29 August 2019 at 02:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Denver, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Rocky Mountain Metro (BJC)

Coordinates

39.7503, -104.9997

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N53432

Category

Airplane

Year built

1981

Engines

1

Operator

Rocky Mountain Flight School

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Colorado Springs → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

CEN19LA292

1 person had minor injuries.

A total loss of electrical power for reasons that could not be determined, and the student pilot’s subsequent runway overrun during a no-flap landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The student pilot was completing a solo cross-country flight when he noticed the low voltage warning light illuminate; however, since the voltmeter continued to indicate about 28 volts (v), he continued the flight to the destination airport and completed a touch-and-go landing before proceeding back to the departure airport. The pilot later stated that he was “not confident that he completely understood how an electrical system failure may affect the aircraft.” As the pilot attempted to lower the flaps before landing, the airplane experienced a complete loss of electrical power, and the flaps did not extend. The student pilot conducted a no-flap landing to the 3,600-ft-long runway, during which the airplane bounced multiple times and continued off the end of the runway and over a retaining wall, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot reported that he had not received training in no-flap landings. Examination of the alternator revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Some wiring associated with the alternator displayed areas of broken insulation and exposed wire; however, it could not be determined if this was due to preaccident chafing or the result of impact damage. Based on the available information, the reason for the loss of electrical power could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.