Cessna R172E accident near Colorado Springs, Colorado, August 16, 2018
On August 16, 2018 at about 5:00 pm local time, a 1967 Cessna R172E, registered N146AC, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Colorado Springs, Colorado (Usaf Academy Airfield). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane’s failure to maintain a climb after takeoff, which resulted in a forced landing on unsuitable terrain; the reason for the airplane’s failure to climb could not be determined based on the available evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 16, 2018 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Colorado Springs, Colorado · Usaf Academy Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna R172E, built 1967 · all R172Es on the register
- Registration
- N146AC · registry record · serial R1720147
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that the student pilot was flying the airplane during the first takeoff of an instructional flight. The engine sounded normal and was operating properly with a fuel flow of about 14 gallons per hour and between 2,800 to 2,900 rpm. The instructor stated that, during the takeoff roll, the student rotated the airplane about 60 mph. Initially, the pitch was high, but then the student lowered the airplane's nose to the horizon. Subsequently, the airplane reached about 100 ft above ground level but then stopped climbing, and the airspeed began decreasing. The instructor reported that the fuel flow and rpm were still normal. The instructor stated that he took the flight controls, lowered the flaps to 10°, and lowered the airplane's nose to hold 55 to 60 mph, "hoping that the ground effect would enable a speed increase." He turned the airplane right to avoid a tree line and conducted a forced landing in a field. The airplane landed on its main wheels, but the nose landing gear impacted rough terrain, and the airplane nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Postaccident examination of the airframe, engine, and propeller governor revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Therefore, the reason for the airplane's failure to maintain a climb could not be determined.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Unknown or undetermined during takeoff defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 17,631 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 68 in the last 90 days; 42 in the last 30 days; 15,527 as pilot in command; 6,575 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 6 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,571 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 7, 2018; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors IO-360-DB (piston); 5,745 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AFF Colorado Springs CO at 5:00 pm
- Destination: AFF Colorado Springs CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 4,480 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 17,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 4:58 pm from AFF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on October 17, 2019. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | NTSB Record of Conversations | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | USAF Academy Weather | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Aircraft Log | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Maintenance Logbook Excerpts | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Engine Run and Propeller Governor Bench Test | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Photo Log | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 8 | NTSB Wreckage Release | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N146AC the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.