# NTSB DEN88LA206: Cessna 172, N97890, Greeley, CO, September 16, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 16, 1988, 12:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Greeley, CO
- Coordinates: 40.439144, -104.669471 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4391&lon=-104.6695&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 25, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17542
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88LA206
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17542/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88LA206

## 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 - crosswind
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - ground loop/swerve - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PLT REPORTED THAT HE WAS MAKING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS. DURING LANDING ROLL THE CROSSWIND LIFTED THE RIGHT WING AND CAUSED THE ACFT TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT. THE STUDENT PLT SAID HE ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE DRIFT, TO NO AVAIL. THE LEFT MAIN WHEEL DEPARTED THE RNWY, ENTERED SOFT, MUDDY TERRAIN AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N97890](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N97890-2005-02-18), registration cancelled 2005-02-18, S/N 17276238, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17276238
- Airframe hours: 3180
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Emery Aviation College
- Registered owner: Debalco Enterprises, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 29, 1988, 49 hours before
- Departed: GXY
- Destination: GXY
- Airport: GXY, Greeley/Weld County, runway 9, 7,035 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 21; student; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 16 total, 14 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 8 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19880916041399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880916041399A), Sep 16, 1988: Cessna 172P, Greeley, CO, Substantial damage. Strong crosswind on first solo pushed aircraft to edge of runway, got a wheel into mud and nosed over.

## Other investigations on N97890 (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 MIA03FA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03FA066), Feb 25, 2003: Cessna 172P (N97890), Osteen, FL, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The intentional suicidal act by the pilot-in-command resulting in the in-flight collision with trees then the ground.

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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