Primary finding
Probable cause
An inadvertent stall. A factor was the pilot's excessive flare.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The student pilot was planning to practice touch-and-go landings. He said his landing approach was normal. As he flared for the landing, the airplane began to climb so he added power to avoid stalling. The airplane continued climbing and the stall warning horn sounded. The pilot said he thought he applied full power and remembered the airplane drifting left of the runway. The airplane struck the ground next to the runway and nosed over.
Source record
Factual narrative
On July 27, 1994, at 0818 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N739VN, was destroyed during an attempted landing at Centennial Airport, Englewood, Colorado. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The following is based on the pilot/operator report. The pilot said he was going to practice touch-and-go landings. His landing approach was normal. As he flared for the landing, the airplane began to climb so he added power to avoid stalling. The airplane continued climbing and the stall warning horn sounded. The pilot thought he applied full power and remembered the airplane drifting left of the runway. The airplane struck the ground next to the runway and nosed over. Witnesses corroborated the pilot's statement. -