NTSB Factual Report

On March 3, 2002, at 1100 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172N, N5413J, sustained substantial damage when it went off the side of runway 29 and flipped over during landing at Vance Brand Airport (2V2) in Longmont, Colorado. The student pilot, the solo occupant, was not injured. The aircraft was registered to a private owner and was being operated by Flatirons Aviation of Boulder, Colorado, on a visual flight rules (VFR) instructional flight under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight. The flight departed Boulder Municipal Airport (1V5), Boulder, Colorado, about 1040.

The student reported that the runway was icy at the time of the landing. He reported that he attempted a soft field landing at 60 knots. He stated that he slowed to 30 knots, at which point the aircraft hit a patch of ice. He reported that the airplane skidded to the left, the nosewheel hit a large mound of snow, and the airplane flipped onto its back. The student pilot reported that no mechanical failure or malfunction was involved in the accident. The student pilot reported in his narrative of the accident that he had a 10-knot tailwind, but reported in the weather data blocks on his NTSB pilot accident report that winds were from 290 degrees at 10 knots (he also filled in 10 knots in the "Gusts" weather data block.) The student reported a temperature of 40 degrees F at the time of the accident on his NTSB accident report. At 1045, Jeffco Airport in Broomfield, Colorado, reported a temperature of -4 degrees C (25 degrees F) and variable winds at 3 knots.

According to the U.S. Government Airport/Facility Directory (A/FD), Vance Brand Airport runway 29 is a 4,800-foot by 75-foot concrete runway.

NTSB Probable Cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. Factors included the student pilot's lack of experience, an icy runway, and a mound of snow adjacent to the runway.