# NTSB WPR25FA268: Cessna 172M, N61657, Fort Morgan, CO, August 31, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report - Date: August 31, 2025, 10:40 local (16:40 UTC) - Place: Fort Morgan, CO · Runway 14 at FMM. - Coordinates: 40.34054, -103.81023 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3405&lon=-103.8102&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining events: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250); [Approach-VFR pattern final: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious, 2 minor - Status: Investigation ongoing - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA Denver FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 200906 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25FA268 - NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200906/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25FA268 ## Preliminary report (aircraft 1) On August 31, 2025, about 1040 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N61657, and an Extra Flugzeugproduktions-UND EA 300/LC, N330AN, were both destroyed when they collided midair near Fort Morgan, Colorado. The pilot and safety pilot of the Cessna received minor injuries. The pilot of the Extra 300 was seriously injured, and the safety pilot of the Extra 300 was fatally injured. Both airplanes were operated as Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flights. According to the pilot of the Cessna, he was conducting instrument flight training with the assistance of a safety pilot. They were performing the RNAV GPS approach to runway 14 at Fort Morgan Municipal Airport (FMM) Fort Morgan, Colorado, while in visual flight rules (VFR) conditions. The pilot had made multiple radio calls on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) to notify the FMM traffic of his arrival and was aware of aerobatic flights occurring at the airport. He recalled hearing two airplanes in the traffic pattern and understood that one may have landed. The pilot then continued the instrument approach to the decision altitude of 4,845 ft mean sea level, or about 250 ft above ground level (agl), then removed his view limiting device. He identified the runway and continued the approach visually. The pilot estimated that they were over the threshold when he heard a bang and felt a forward and downward acceleration. After the impact the two pilots immediately exited the airplane. According to the pilot of the Extra 300, he was competing in an aerobatic competition over the airport and completed his sequence. He exited the box and maneuvered to enter the traffic pattern at the traffic pattern altitude. He made multiple radio calls stating his intention to land on runway 14. He heard a previous competitor on the CTAF who would be landing before him, but no one else. While on the downwind leg, he entered a continuous left descending turn to the runway. He was on final approach and about ready to begin the flare when the Cessna appeared underneath the nose of the Extra 300. The impact happened quickly afterwards and there was no time for maneuvering or go around. According to a competition judge, located about 1 mile south of the approach end of runway 14, he was observing the Extra 300 and saw both airplanes nearing the runway. He noticed that the Cessna was in front and below the Extra 300 and estimated that the Cessna was at a low altitude of about 10-15 ft agl, while the Extra 300 was about 15-20 ft agl. He saw the two airplanes collide and fall onto the runway. He immediately notified the chief judge who then called 911. Both airplanes came to rest inverted, alongside each other, and off the right side of runway 14. A line of debris, from both airplanes, extended from the wreckage about 500 ft northwest. The left wing of the Cessna separated from the airplane at the root and was located about 100 ft north of the main wreckage. Both the left horizontal stabilizerand left elevator separated from the empennage. The left elevator exhibited multiple spanwise cuts, consistent with impacts from a sharp object. The wood and composite material propeller of the Extra 300 fractured into multiple pieces and was scattered throughout the debris field. The pilots of the Cessna exited their airplane and saw the pilot of the Extra 300 was out of his airplane and calling for assistance. According to the pilot of the Extra 300, he attempted to extricate the safety pilot until help arrived. Heat from a postaccident fire precluded rescue the effort. The airplanes were recovered to a secure facility for further examinations. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250) (defining event), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 196 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250) (defining event), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Extra Flugzeugproduktions-Und EA 300/LC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250/sequence.md?model=70218DQ), [All aircraft, 196 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250/sequence.md) ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N61657](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N61657), registered now, S/N 17264706, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17264706 - Year built: 1975 - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Bell Ornithopters Flying Club Inc - Registered owner: Bell Ornithopters Flying Club Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: BJC, Denver, CO - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: FMM, Fort Morgan Muni, runway 14, 5,731 × 74 ft, asphalt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N330AN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N330AN-2026-01-05), registration cancelled 2026-01-05, S/N LC051, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EXTRA FLUGZEUGPRODUKTIONS-UND EA 300/LC - Registry model: [Extra Flugzeugproduktions-Und EA 300/LC](https://openairdocs.org/model/extra-flugzeugproduktions-und-ea-300-lc) (registry code 70218DQ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-580-B1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-580-b1a) (registry code 42403, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: LC051 - Year built: 2015 - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: 333an LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Destination: Same as departure ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.31 inHg - Observed at: KFMM, 1 nm away - METAR: KFMM 311635Z AUTO VRB05KT 10SM CLR 21/12 A3031 RMK AO2 ## 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 20250831019862A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250831019862A), Aug 31, 2025: Cessna 172M, Fort Morgan, CO, Destroyed. At approximately 10:43AM local time at Fort Morgan Municipal Airport (kfmm) Cessna 172 and extra 300M collided while both were attempting to land on runway 14,… - [Accident 20250831019852A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250831019852A), Aug 31, 2025: Extra Flugzeugproduktions-Und EA 300/LC, Fort Morgan, CO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. At approximately 10:43AM local time at Fort Morgan municipal airport (kfmm) Cessna 172 and Extra 300M collided while both were attempting to land on runway 14,… 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.