Cessna T182T accident near Loveland, Colorado, November 1, 2009
On November 1, 2009 at about 1:45 am local time, a Cessna T182T, registered N652CP, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Loveland, Colorado (Fort Collins-Loveland Municipa airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point during dusk light conditions, and his failure to execute a go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 1, 2009 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- Loveland, Colorado · Fort Collins-Loveland Municipa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T182T · all T182Ts on the register
- Registration
- N652CP · registry record · serial T18208652
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor requested that the pilot demonstrate a "power-off 180-degree accuracy approach and landing to the 1000-foot mark" on runway 15 with no flaps. The pilot was low on the approach. As the airplane crossed the runway threshold, they felt an impact and the airplane landed "hard." The airplane had struck a two-foot high snow bank that was between the threshold lights. The instructor said the upslope runway, inability to brighten the airspeed readout on the G1000 avionics system, and dusk light conditions contributed to the accident.
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
- Collision during takeoff/land during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Flight crew
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Snow/ice › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Low light › Effect on personnel
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,550 hours in all; 1,858 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 2,440 as pilot in command; 727 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 22, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,898 hours in all; 854 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,876 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 935 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 18, 2009; 24 hours since
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AK1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Civil Air Patrol
The flight
- Departed from: FNL Loveland CO
- Destination: FNL Loveland CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 15, 8,500 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 090° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 1:30 am from FNL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.
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.