Kayenta Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Kayenta, Arizona 86033
Wednesday, August 14, 1996 10:30 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/14/1996
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City KAYENTA
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 86033
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport KAYENTA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 0V7
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 110
Airport Elevation 5710
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 948 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 136
Weather Observation Facility ID GUP
Elevation of weather observation facility 6469
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 116
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 14000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 9000
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1429
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 14 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:17AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N65963
NTSB Number LAX96LA306
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172Q
Aircraft Series Identifier 172Q
Aircraft Serial Number 17275934
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jun 26 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 87
Airframe Hours 4966
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name W.D. BURNHAM
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1300 WILLIAMS AVENUE
Aircraft Owner City DE SOTO
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 75115
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name COTHRON AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 5104 S. COLLINS
Operator City ARLINGTON
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 76018
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 0V7
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ABQ
Destination City ALBUQUERQUE
Destination State NM
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 23
Runway Length 7100
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --