Cessna R172E accident near Denver, Colorado, February 27, 2012
On February 27, 2012 at about 5:52 pm local time, a Cessna R172E, registered N3196F, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (to runway) near Denver, Colorado (Front Range Airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper decision to taxi in wind conditions that exceeded the airplane’s capability.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 27, 2012 · about 5:52 pm local time
- Place
- Denver, Colorado · Front Range Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna R172E · all R172Es on the register
- Registration
- N3196F · no longer on the register · serial 1720218
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was taxiing for takeoff in wind that greatly exceeded the airplane manufacturer's maximum demonstrated crosswind component and the airplane operator's wind limits. During the taxi, which was along a taxiway that was subject to an almost direct crosswind, the wind lifted the airplane’s tail upward, and the airplane nosed over.
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
- Other weather encounter during taxi (to runway)
- Loss of control on ground during taxi (to runway) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during taxi (to runway)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Maximum crosswind component › Capability exceeded
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,400 hours in all; 50 in this make and model
- Last flight review: August 5, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15,490 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 10, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental IO-360-DB (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: United States Air Force Peterson Aero Club
The flight
- Departed from: FTG Denver CO at 5:52 pm
- Destination: COS Colorado Spring CO
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 30 knots, gusting 43
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 5:43 pm from FTG
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 N3196F 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.