Cessna 152 accident near Fort Collins, Colorado, June 18, 2009
On June 18, 2009 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N95144, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing (engine(s) start-up) near Fort Collins, Colorado (Fort Collins-Loveland airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to control the airplane after engine startup, resulting in a ground collision with a nearby airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 18, 2009 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Collins, Colorado · Fort Collins-Loveland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N95144 · no longer on the register · serial 15285857
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident happened on the first flight of the day. The pilot primed the engine using the mixture and set the throttle at the "half" position. The pilot reported that during engine start he placed his feet on the brakes and the engine rpms went to 2,400 rpm immediately; the airplane then started moving forward. The pilot applied the brakes and reduced the throttle; however, the airplane continued to accelerate forward. The airplane impacted a parked Cessna 206, resulting in the partial separation of the accident airplane's right wing and damge to the Cessna 206's propeller and windshield. An examination of the accident airplane's engine, carburetor, throttle assembly, and brakes revealed no anomalies.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during standing (engine(s) start-up) defining event
- Ground collision during standing (engine(s) start-up)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 93 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: May 29, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,478.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 10, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KFNL Fort Collins CO at 4:00 pm
- Destination: KFNL Fort Collins CO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from KFNL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N95144 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.