Cessna LC41-550FG accident near Telluride, Colorado, April 4, 2012
On April 4, 2012 at about 7:40 pm local time, a Cessna LC41-550FG, registered N1178L, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Telluride, Colorado (Telluride Regional Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to land with a direct tailwind, which resulted in a loss of directional control, and his subsequent decision to attempt a go-around so late in the landing roll, which resulted in a stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 4, 2012 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Telluride, Colorado · Telluride Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna LC41-550FG · all LC41-550FGs on the register
- Registration
- N1178L · no longer on the register · serial 411101
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After an uneventful cross-country flight, the pilot announced to air traffic control his intention to enter the traffic pattern on right base leg for runway 9, even though there was a slight tailwind. After crossing over the numbers, the airplane floated longer than the pilot anticipated and touched down just before the 3,000-foot marker. The touchdown was straight and centered. The pilot felt comfortable that he had plenty of runway to safely bring the airplane to a stop and was expecting a smooth and straight rollout. Soon after touchdown, the airplane pulled to the left, and the pilot responded by applying brakes, with more pressure on the right brake. The airplane corrected slightly, and he eased off the brakes. The airplane was still pulling left, so he repeated the process of right-dominated braking, but the plane continued to pull left. At this point, the pilot realized that he was not going to be able to keep the airplane on the runway. He considered locking up the brakes and “riding it out” but thought that he could execute a go-around. According to the pilot, he advanced the throttle and eased back on the control stick, and the engine did not respond. The airplane nosed up, stalled, and came down off the left side of the runway. Examination of the flight controls and brake system did not show any preexisting mechanical malfunction or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the engine’s lack of response, as reported by the pilot, when he tried to initiate a go-around could not be verified. It is unknown whether a go-around with normal throttle response so late in the landing/rollout sequence could have prevented the accident. The reported wind at the airport about 5 minutes before the accident was from 270 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 16 knots. Since the pilot landed on runway 9, the airplane would have encountered a direct tailwind of at least 12 knots, not taking into account the reported 16-knot gusts. It is likely that the tailwind influenced the airplane’s pull to the left after touchdown.
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
- Runway excursion during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 159 hours in all; 89 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 114 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 28, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor TSIO-550-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FLG Flagstaff AZ at 6:00 pm
- Destination: TEX Telluride CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 7,111 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 12 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 7:35 pm from TEX
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN12LA234.