Event LAX96LA306

Factual narrative

On August 14, 1996, at 1030 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 172Q, N65963, crashed about 1/2 mile southeast of Kayenta Airport, Kayenta, Arizona, shortly after departing runway 23. The pilot was beginning a visual flight rules personal flight to Albuquerque, New Mexico. The airplane, registered to a private individual and operated by Cothron Aviation, Arlington, Texas, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot sustained minor injuries. Neither the pilot rated passenger occupying the right front seat, nor the rear seat passenger was injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot reported to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector from the Scottsdale Arizona Flight Standards District Office, that he had refueled the airplane at Grand Canyon Airport, Grand Canyon, Arizona, and then flew to Kayenta Airport. He said that the airspeed indicator was showing between 40 and 45 knots during the climb-out, but that the airplane would not climb sufficiently. He lowered the airplane's nose to gain airspeed, but had to maneuver around a power plant, and then the airplane struck the ground. The pilot rated passenger reported in the aircraft accident report that the airplane lifted off at 65 knots indicated airspeed. He said the airplane began to drift to the left and then start to lose altitude. The pilot was applying full power, but the resulting propeller rpm's were less than normal. The airplane continued the descent until it crashed. The passenger occupying a rear seat also submitted an accident report. He said in the report that the airplane drifted to the left and had "small climbing speed [airspeed]" and he also submitted an approximate flight path diagram. According to the diagram, the airplane made a 90-degree left turn and came to rest facing in a northwesterly direction. The estimated fuel consumption for the pilot's previous flight from the Grand Canyon to Kayenta was about 10.7 gallons. At the time of the accident, the estimated takeoff weight was about 2,253.6 pounds (the airplane's ramp weight minus estimated fuel burned). The field elevation is 5,710 feet. The temperature was reported to be 84 degrees Fahrenheit at the time of the accident. The calculated density altitude was about 9,000 feet. According to the Cessna 172Q Information Manual, the stall speed at maximum gross weight is 59 knots calibrated airspeed (KCAS); the indicated airspeed would be about 50 knots (KIAS). Using the estimated airplane gross weight at the time of the accident, the stall speed would decrease about 2.36 KCAS (about 56.64 KCAS). The airplane's stall speed would be about 43 KIAS. The airplane information manual states that the best rate of climb airspeed is 73 KIAS; the best angle of climb speed is 57 knots. The best angle of climb speed is used to clear a 50-foot obstacle (gain the highest altitude in the shortest distance). The best rate of climb speed is used to climb to a given altitude in the shortest amount of time. The manufacturer recommends that pilots climb at 5 knots above the best rate of climb speed. 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. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12