Cessna 175A accident near Colo. Springs, Colorado, April 26, 2003
On April 26, 2003 at about 6:10 pm local time, a Cessna 175A, registered N6884E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Colo. Springs, Colorado (Meadow Lake Airport). It was a personal 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 stuck open exhaust valve on the engine's number 2 cylinder, the pilot's improper preflight planning, and his failure to maintain aircraft control. Factors contributing to the accident were the low altitude flight maneuver performed, the low airspeed, the tailwind, the high density altitude, and the inadvertent stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 26, 2003 · about 6:10 pm local time
- Place
- Colo. Springs, Colorado · Meadow Lake Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 175A · all 175As on the register
- Registration
- N6884E · no longer on the register · serial 56384
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported on takeoff having a normal acceleration and run. The pilot said, "The airplane uncharacteristically failed to produce additional RPMs once airborne." The pilot determined that he would have to bring the airplane back for landing. The pilot said he initiated a left turn to crosswind and lowered an additional 10 degrees of flaps. The pilot said that it was at this point that he was near minimum controllable airspeed. The airplane started a slow descent. The pilot said he turned the airplane from crosswind to aim it back toward the center of the airport. The pilot said, "As I rolled level I noted the airspeed indicator at 40 miles per hour, which I maintained all the way down to touchdown in a stable descent." The pilot said that at approximately 20 feet above the ground, he pulled back slightly on the yoke in an attempt to flare the airplane. The right wing dropped, and the airplane impacted the ground, bounced, and went inverted. An examination of the airplane's engine showed the number 2 cylinder exhaust valve stuck in the open position. No other anomalies with the airplane were found. The density altitude for the area at the time of the accident was 8,133 feet. The pilot reported the winds on takeoff as 250 degrees at 8 knots. An examination of the engine logbook showed that 9 months earlier, the number 2 cylinder exhaust valve was found stuck open after an aborted takeoff. The valve was unstuck and an engine run and test flight was conducted. From the time of the aborted takeoff incident to the time of the accident, the airplane logged approximately 2 hours total time.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 700 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 647 as pilot in command; 20 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 15, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,499.0 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 29, 2002; 3.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental GO-300-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 00V Colo. Springs CO at 6:10 pm
- Destination: 99V Crawford CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 15, 6,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.77 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 pm from COS, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.