# NTSB DEN87LA240: Cessna 177B, N34157, Fort Collins, CO, September 14, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 13, 1987, 20:00 local (Sep 14, 1987, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Fort Collins, CO
- Coordinates: 40.649578, -105.030563 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6496&lon=-105.0306&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 24, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17311
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN87LA240
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17311/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87LA240

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
- Nose down, landing - roll

## Analysis

DURING THE APPROACH TO FORT COLLINS DOWNTOWN AIRPORT, THE PILOT REPORTED ENCOUNTERING MODERATE TURBULENCE. AT TOUCHDOWN ON RUNWAY 11, A CROSSWIND GUST PUSHED THE AIRCRAFT OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY INTO THE GRASS. THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED AND CAME TO A STOP NOSE DOWN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N34157](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N34157-1988-04-19), registration cancelled 1988-04-19, S/N 17701675 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177B
- Registry model: [Cessna 177B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177b) (registry code 2073708) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17701675
- Airframe hours: 2600
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1F6 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Mountain Flyers Aero Club
- Registered owner: Smith, Owen C.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 6, 1987, 58 hours before
- Departed: COS, COLORADO SPRGS, CO
- Airport: 3V5, Fort Collins Downtown, runway 11, 4,700 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 106 total, 31 in this make and model, 59 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 280° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BJC, 40 nm away

## 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 19870913053139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870913053139A), Sep 13, 1987: Cessna 177B, Fort Collins, CO, Substantial damage. Lost control on rollout. Veered off runway onto a grassy area. Propeller struck the ground. Came to rest nose down.

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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