# NTSB CEN21LA414: Cessna 172S, N2099J, LaSalle, CO, September 10, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 10, 2021, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: LaSalle, CO
- Coordinates: 40.353333, -104.69194 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3533&lon=-104.6919&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report January 14, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103843
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA414
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103843/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103843
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA414

## Probable cause

A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

** This report was modified on January 13, 2026. Please see the docket for this accident to view the original report. ** The flight instructor and student pilot were conducting a simulated off-field emergency landing as part of a pre-solo cross-country progress check. The flight instructor told the student pilot to break off the maneuver and apply engine power, but the airplane’s engine did not respond when power was added. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and attempted to restart the engine with no success. He then declared an emergency and performed a 180° power-off turn to a field. During the touchdown, the airplane contacted a raised embankment, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine showed no preaccident failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. As a result, the cause of the total loss of engine power could not be determined.

## Factual narrative

On September 10, 2021, about 1100 central daylight time , a Cessna 172S airplane, N2099J, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near LaSalle, Colorado. The flight instructor and the student pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. The flight was intended as pre-solo cross-country progress check. The flight originated from Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (BJC), Broomfield, Colorado. After 40 minutes of flight, the flight instructor told the student pilot to perform a touch-and-go landing at Greeley-Weld County Airport (GXY), Greeley Colorado, and then navigate back to BJC. After the touch-and-go landing at GXY, the flight instructor initiated a simulated high oil pressure and high temperature scenario as the airplane was in cruise flight at 7,500 ft mean sea level. The student pilot responded by initiating a return to GXY. During the return flight to GXY, the flight instructor reduced the engine power to 2,000 rpm and informed the student pilot that he had a simulated engine fire. The student pilot responded by reducing the engine power to idle and began a descent. Once the flight instructor announced that the simulated engine fire was out, the student pilot established a glide and chose a location for a simulated off-field emergency landing. When the airplane was at an altitude of about 1,000 ft above ground level, the flight instructor determined that the student pilot would safely reach the intended landing location. The flight instructor then instructed the student pilot to apply power, commence a go-around, and fly back to BJC. When the student pilot applied power, the engine did not respond. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and attempted to restart the engine with no success. The flight instructor then declared an emergency and performed a 180° power off turn to a different landing location than the student pilot had selected earlier. During the landing, the airplane contacted a raised embankment, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airframe showed no preaccident failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Postaccident examination of the engine showed continuity throughout. Both magnetos produced spark. The fuel lines, fuel distribution manifold, airbox, and fuel pumps were intact. Fuel was observed in the manifold and lines. The spark plugs showed normal signatures. Throttle and mixture cables to the cockpit were connected. The propeller remained attached to the engine at the flange. The spinner was crushed and broken in the aft direction. Both propeller blades were straight and showed little rotational damage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2099J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2099J-2023-02-04), registration cancelled 2023-02-04, S/N 172S9586, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S
- Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172S9586
- Year built: 2004
- Airframe hours: 8429
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Mcair
- Registered owner: First Flight Aviation Services LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 14, 2021
- Departed: BJC, Broomfield, CO
- Destination: BJC, Broomfield, CO
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 6, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 938 total, 893 in this make and model
- Student pilot; age 23; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 66 total, 66 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observed at: KGXY, 6 nm away
- METAR: METAR KGXY 101656Z AUTO VRB04KT 10SM CLR 28/06 A3015 RMK AO2 SLP172 T02780061

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20210910012829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210910012829A), Sep 10, 2021: Cessna 172S, Lasalle, CO, Substantial damage. The flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot (sp) departed rocky mountain metro (bjc) at approximately 10:20 a.m. on a pre-solo cross-country progress check…

## Other investigations on N2099J (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB DEN04CA137](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04CA137), Aug 29, 2004: Cessna 172S (N2099J), Erie, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control resulting in a hard landing. Factors contributing to the accident were the pilot induced oscillation and the high approach airspeed.

## Docket (8 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 23, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103843. 4.7 MB in all.

- Airframe and engine examination (item 1, PDF, 5 pages, 134 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15811519&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airframe%20and%20Engine%20Exam-Rel.pdf
- Flight instructor's statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 952 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15811667&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Flight%20Instructor%20JFH%20Statement%2009232021_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Student pilot's statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 76 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15811677&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Student%20Pilot%20Statement%20JDG_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Witnesses statements (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15812439&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20statements%20plane%20wreck_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photographs (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15822971&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array,%20LaSalle,%20CO-Rel.pdf
- Carburetor icing chart (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 412 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15952752&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Probability%20Chart%20-%20CEN21LA414-Rel.pdf
- Memo to revise coding analysis pc and factual report CEN21LA414 (item 7, PDF, 3 pages, 251 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19783599&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20to%20Revise%20Coding%20Analysis%20PC%20and%20Factual%20Report%20CEN21LA414_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- CEN21LA414 original report with track changes (item 8, PDF, 9 pages, 315 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19782697&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN21LA414%20Original%20Report%20with%20Track%20Changes-Rel.pdf

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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