| Crash location | 38.048055°N, 103.512778°W |
| Nearest city | La Junta, CO
37.985009°N, 103.543832°W 4.7 miles away |
| Tail number | N2567U |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 30 Jan 2016 |
| Aircraft type | Cessna 172 |
| Additional details: | None |
The pilot reported that during a night takeoff, shortly after the airplane lifted off the runway, he "felt a force" on the tail. He further reported that the angle of attack changed to an "extreme angle", the airspeed decreased, and the stall warning horn was audible. Subsequently the left wing impacted the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing.
According to the pilot there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport revealed that, at the time of the accident, conditions were wind 30 degrees at 19 knots, wind gust 27 knots. The airplane was departing on runway 26.
The pilot's decision to take off with a tailwind, and exceed the critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with the ground.