Pilot Debrief

Cessna 172 near Boulder, CO — 2020-02-20

Final reportCEN20CA094
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Date
2020-02-20
Location
Boulder, CO, USA
Airport
BDU
Aircraft
Cessna 172
Registration
N370SP
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's loss of directional control during the landing roll on the slush-covered runway.

NTSB narrative

The pilot departed from a snow-packed runway, flew locally for about 2 hours, and then returned to land. The pilot stated that, while in the traffic pattern preparing to land, the runway still appeared to be snow-packed like it was during the departure. However, the runway was actually slush covered with patches of ice due to the morning sun melting the previously hard snow, and the airplane veered left during the landing roll. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control, and the airplane subsequently impacted a snowbank on the edge of the runway and nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings and the vertical stabilizer.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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