Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On March 1, 1994, at 0545 mountain standard time, a Cessna 177RG, N2181Q, sustained substantial damage after control was lost following takeoff from Vance Brand Airport, Longmont, Colorado. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this personal flight to Montevideo, Minnesota. An IFR flight plan was on file.

According to the pilot, the aircraft could not be kept airborne following takeoff from runway 29. The left wing was damaged and the fuselage was buckled.

According to the responding Longmont police officer, who was a pilot, the aircraft wings and fuselage were coated with ice when he arrived on scene approximately 20 minutes following the accident. The officer stated that icing conditions were not present at the time, but freezing rain had fallen for most of the previous evening.

In a statement to the responding police officer, the pilot stated that he made a mistake and did not deice the aircraft sufficiently prior to takeoff. (See attached police report). According to the enclosed pilot report, there was a slight "buffet" without a stall warning horn "just prior to impact." AN INADVERTENT STALL DUE TO IMPROPER PREFLIGHT AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY REMOVE ICE FROM THE AIRCRAFT. A FACTOR WAS AIRFRAME ICING.