Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Orchard, Colorado 80649
Tuesady, June 20, 2000 21:45 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While was en route from Greeley to Akron, Colorado, the pilot observed smoke coming from the cowling. He made a precautionary landing on a beach alongside a reservoir. After landing, the pilot inspected the airplane but couldn't find the smoke source. After a period of time to allow the smoke to dissipate, the pilot prepared for takeoff. He said all engine instrument indications were normal and maximum engine power was being developed. A short field takeoff was made, and he lifted off 'prior to [the] go-no go decision point.' As the airplane crossed over the water, it began losing altitude. The right wing dropped and the airplane struck the water and nosed over. The pilot surmised that the smoke source was due to the 'breaking in' of the newly installed muffler and exhaust stacks.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot inadvertently stalling the airplane. A factor was his failure to maintain sufficient airspeed.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/20/2000
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 2145
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City ORCHARD
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80649
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2135 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 274
Weather Observation Facility ID GXY
Elevation of weather observation facility 4658
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 23
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 15
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 5510
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13944
NTSB Notification Source FAA NW ROC
NTSB Notification Date Jun 20 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2230
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 30 2003 9:55AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N84105
NTSB Number DEN00LA115
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172K
Aircraft Series Identifier 172K
Aircraft Serial Number 17258335
Certified Max Gross Weight 2220
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 300
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LEROY CHAMPION
Aircraft Owner Street Address 59 DUNLAWTON AVE.
Aircraft Owner City PORT ORANGE
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32127
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code GXY
Departure City GREELEY
Departure State CO
Departure Country
Departure Time 1830
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code AKO
Destination City AKRON
Destination State CO
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --