Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On October 15, 1993, at 1015 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172F, N5191F, collided with the ground during landing on runway 17R at Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, Colorado Springs, Colorado. The student pilot was uninjured and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the student pilot's first solo flight and no flight plan was filed.

The student was following a C-130 aircraft for his first touch and go landing. The tower reported the winds to be calm and cleared the student for a touch and go landing on runway 17R. The controller instructed the student to follow a C-130 aircraft on final to that runway. As the student pilot was entering the flare, the aircraft pitched up and rolled right. According to the student, as he began to regain control, the aircraft struck a taxiway sign and nosed over. The distance and time between the C-130 landing and the student landing could not be determined. AN ENCOUNTER WITH WAKE TURBULENCE DURING THE LANDING FLARE. A FACTOR WAS LACK OF TOTAL PILOT EXPERIENCE.