# NTSB DEN99FA077: Cessna 172Q, N96299, Greeley, CO, May 13, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report - Date: May 13, 1999, 09:02 local (15:02 UTC) - Place: Greeley, CO - Coordinates: 40.440544, -104.670242 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4405&lon=-104.6702&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 13, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46352 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN99FA077 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46352/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99FA077 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) Failure of both the pilot receiving instruction and the flight instructor to maintain a visual lookout. A factor was the failure of the other pilot to maintain a visual lookout. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) Failure of the pilots in the other airplane to maintain a visual lookout. A factor was the failure of the flight instructor to maintain a visual lookout. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - visual lookout - not maintained, flightcrew (cause) - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) N96299, a Cessna 172Q, was inbound on the localizer and was executing the ILS approach to runway 9. The private pilot in the left seat was wearing an instrument hood, and the flight instructor in the right seat was maintaining a visual lookout. N5129C, a Cessna T210N, had completed the VOR-A approach, and had entered the traffic pattern for landing on runway 9. Both the private pilot in the left seat and the flight instructor in the right seat were maintaining visual lookouts. Seconds after the 210 pilot turned onto final approach, the collision occurred. Both airplanes landed safely. The 172 had minor damage. The 210 sustained substantial damage, including a destroyed right wing upper spar cap and a damaged right aileron that reduced roll control. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) N96299, a Cessna 172Q, was inbound on the localizer and was executing the ILS approach to runway 9. The private pilot in the left seat was wearing an instrument hood, and the flight instructor in the right seat was maintaining a visual lookout. N5129C, a Cessna T210N, had completed the VOR-A approach, and had entered the traffic pattern for landing on runway 9. Both the private pilot in the left seat and the flight instructor in the right seat were maintaining visual lookouts. Seconds after the 210 pilot turned onto final approach, the collision occurred. Both airplanes landed safely. The 172 had minor damage. The 210 sustained substantial damage, including a destroyed right wing upper spar cap and a damaged right aileron that reduced roll control. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) See narrative for DEN 99-F-A077A. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 13, 1999, at 0902 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172Q, N96299, registered to Properties Group, Inc., and doing business as Aspen Flying Club of Englewood, Colorado, and a Cessna T210N, N5129C, registered to Skylanes, Inc., of Eagle, Colorado, collided in midair 4 miles west of the Greeley-Weld County Airport, Greeley, Colorado, while both airplanes were on landing approaches. N96299 sustained minor damage, but N5129C was substantially damaged. There were no injuries to the commercial rated flight instructor and private pilot receiving instruction aboard N96299, and there were no injuries to the commercial rated flight instructor and private pilot receiving instruction aboard N5129C. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. Both airplanes were operating under IFR flight plans. The flight of N96299 originated at Englewood, Colorado, approximately 0820, and the flight of N5129C originated at Eagle, Colorado, at 0741. In his accident report, the instructor pilot aboard N96299, Thomas Kelly, said he requested the ILS (Instrument Landing System) runway 9 approach to Greeley. While his student, Kenneth Peterson, a certificated private pilot, was being given radar vectors for the approach, Mr. Kelly heard the controller talking to the pilot of N5129C, who was executing the VOR (Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Radio Range) -A approach to Greeley. After crossing the LOM [(compass) locator outer marker], he was told to contact Greeley Unicom for traffic advisories. After doing so, Mr. Kelly heard the pilot of N5129C report he was entering downwind for runway 9. Mr. Kelly reported he was on a 4 mile final approach to runway 9. Approximately 10 seconds later, he heard the pilot of N5129C announce he was on a 4 mile final for runway 9. Within seconds, he felt the impact "from behind and below." Mr. Kelly saw N5129C continue ahead, then veer slightly to the left and descend. He said N5129C "was clearly moving much faster than our aircraft and continued at a much faster rate all the way to the airport." Both airplanes continued to the airport and landed without further incident. According to Mr. Peterson's statement, he was wearing an IFR hood and could only see the instrument panel in front of him. He said he flew the approach while Mr. Kelly handled radio communications. Mr. Peterson heard the pilot of a twin engine airplane report on final approach, a Cessna pilot report on base leg, another Cessna pilot report on downwind leg, and a fourth pilot ask for the ILS frequency. He said his instructor gave the pilot the frequency, then announced their position as being on a 4 mile final for runway 9. He heard another pilot report being on a 4 mile final, and a few seconds later he felt the impact "from below." The instructor pilot aboard N5129C, James Pollitt, and his student, Michael Metcalf, a certificated private pilot, also submitted statements. Mr. Pollitt indicated he and his student had executed two VOR approaches to the airport, and terminated the second approach at the Gill VORTAC. They entered the downwind leg for runway 9 at Greeley. Because a low flying crop duster was spraying a field 2 miles north of the runway, they kept their downwind leg "in close." Mr. Pollitt announced they were "entering base [leg] behind a single [engine] Cessna, number three." N5129C turned onto final approach over U.S. Highway 85 and Mr. Pollitt announced they were on a 5 mile final. Shortly after announcing they were on a 4 mile final, Mr. Pollitt sighted the bottom portion of a fuselage, the landing gear and propeller of an airplane in a left bank ahead and above his airplane. He pushed the yoke forward but was unable to avoid the collision. According to Mr. Metcalf's statement, the flight combined IFR training with an aircraft checkout. He had been flying the airplane, but had not been wearing an instrument hood. He did not see N96299 until a "split second" before the collision. He said his speed was about 85 KIAS (knots indicated airspeed). There were several witnesses to the accident, four of whom submitted written statements (attached). The statements basically corroborated what the pilots reported. One witness remarked that he heard the sound of impact and momentarily saw "white smoke." Another witness saw airplane A (N5129C) "banking around from the north (and) cross directly over" airplane B (N96299) "coming in from almost due west." According to this witness, the airplanes "crossed paths once more, coming very close to each other." He "saw them about to cross paths again when [airplane B] seemed to notice [airplane A] directly in front of him and pulled up and banked to the south," followed by the collision. It appeared to this witness that "[airplane B] was descending for a landing, heading east, and [airplane A] came in behind it and a tad from the southwest when it pulled up and hit the first plane." WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION Immediately after the accident, N96299 and N5129C were secured and examined the following morning. Damage to N96299 consisted of a shattered right main landing gear strut fairing. The brake lines were leaking fluid. There were white scuff marks on the nose wheel. Both propeller blade ends were curled forward; both tips were missing. One blade had a squared leading edge gouge approximately 1/2-inch deep. Examination of N5129C revealed a gash in the left wing leading edge, directly in front of the pitot tube, and extending back to the main spar. Two black rubberized transfer marks were discernible on top of the wing. The first extended from the left wing leading edge gash aft and across to the fuselage centerline. The second extended from the right wing leading edge, just inboard of the fuel filler cap, aft and across to the outboard hinge of the right flap. Seven distinct slash marks were seen on top of the wing, extending from just outboard of the fuel filler cap to the trailing edge of the aileron. Inside, the upper spar cap was either missing or damaged. The ADF antenna cable was stretched and was hanging loose. TESTS AND RESEARCH NTAP (National Track Analysis Program) data was downloaded into a Radar ViewPoint computer program and the plots studied. Radar tracking of N5129C began at 0743. The airplane departed runway 25, proceeded towards the Snow VORTAC, then turned right and intercepted the 220 degree radial and proceeded direct to the Kremmling VORTAC. After passing Kremmling, it tracked outbound on V361 to Allan intersection, then turned east and flew towards Greeley, passing just south of Fort Collins-Loveland Municipal Airport. Tracks of the two VOR approaches and one missed approach are readily discernible. Radar tracking of N96299 began at 0817. The airplane proceeded in a northwest direction, staying clear of the Denver TCA (terminal control area), then intercepted V81 just north of Jeffco Airport. From there it tracked north until it intercepted Greeley runway 9 localizer. It crossed the localizer, made a 270 degree left turn, and re-intercepted the localizer. The tracks of the two airplanes were expanded in the final minutes and examined. N96299 can be seen proceeding inbound on the localizer and initiating its descent from 6,600 feet msl just before crossing the LOM (compass locator outer marker). N5129C can be seen entering a 45 degree entry onto the downwind leg for runway 9 between 5,200 and 5,300 feet. At 0901:19, N96299 is at 5,700 feet and N5129C has just turned onto the base leg at 5,400 feet. At 0901:38, N96299 has descended to 5,600 feet; there were no radar returns for N5129C. At 0901:56, N96299 has descended to 5,500 feet; there are still no radar returns for N5129C. Between 0901:56 and 0902:05, the collision occurred. At 0902:05, N96299 was back up to 5,600, and N5129C is at 5,400 feet and bearing off to the left. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION In addition to the Federal Aviation Ad ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N96299](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N96299), registered now, S/N 17276054 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172Q - Registry model: [Cessna 172Q](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172q) (registry code 2072437) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17276054 - Airframe hours: 8083 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4N 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Aspen Flying Club, Inc. - Registered owner: Properties Group, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 18, 1999, 70 hours before - Departed: APA, ENGLEWOOD, CO - Destination: GXY - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: GXY, Greeley-Weld County, runway 9, 6,200 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N5129C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5129C-2018-11-15), registration cancelled 2018-11-15, S/N 21063707, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna T210N - Registry model: [Cessna T210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210n) (registry code 2073456) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21063707 - Airframe hours: 3694 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-R 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Skylanes, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 8, 1998, 136 hours before - Departed: EGE, EAGLE, CO - Destination: GXY - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: GXY, Greeley-Weld County, runway 9, 6,200 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N96299; age 23; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, invalid medical for flight; seat: right; flight hours: 1,200 total, 950 in this make and model, 1,120 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N5129C; age 47; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 4,000 total, 700 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 82 in the last 90 days, 38 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: FNL, 20 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19990513005129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990513005129A), May 13, 1999: Cessna 172Q, Greeley, CO, Minor damage. Acft was on a practice IFR flight when it collided in mid-air with N5129C, a Cessna C-172 acft, N96299 has minor propeller and strut damage, N5129C has… - [Accident 19990513005092A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990513005092A), May 13, 1999: Cessna T210N, Greeley, CO, Substantial damage. Acft collided in mid air with N96299, a Cessna C-172 acft, N5129C has substantial damage to the tops of both wings, N96299 has minor propeller and strut… ## Other investigations on N96299 (2) 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 MKC90LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC90LA011), Oct 20, 1989: Cessna 172Q (N96299), Hiwasse, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY PLAN THE FLIGHT AND INSURE THAT THERE WAS SUFFICIENT FUEL TO COMPLETE THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT ALSO FAILED TO MONITOR THE FUEL LEVEL DURING THE FLIGHT. - [NTSB DEN88LA101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88LA101), Apr 28, 1988: Cessna 172Q (N96299), Englewood, CO, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.