Cessna 172N accident near Loveland, Colorado, November 2, 2013
On November 2, 2013 at about 9:45 pm local time, a 1978 Cessna 172N, registered N6303E, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Loveland, Colorado (Fort Collins Loveland airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A dragging right brake, which resulted in an un-commanded right turn, and subsequent ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 2, 2013 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Loveland, Colorado · Fort Collins Loveland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N N, built 1978 · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N6303E · no longer on the register · serial 17272005
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction were landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane. The instructor reported that that the after touchdown the airplane veered to the right. He took control of the airplane and applied full left rudder and left brake. The airplane tracked straight for a moment before it turned right and departed the runway. The left main landing gear collapsed and the left wing impacted the ground. Examination of the airplane's right brake rotor revealed heat damage (bluing) of the rotor and substantial damage to the airplane's wing and fuselage. The instructed noted that the other pilot did not appear to make any control inputs that would have resulted in a right turn.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing defining event
- Runway excursion during landing
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Malfunction
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,436 hours in all; 52 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 5,294 as pilot in command; 4,879 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 1, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,543 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 1,216 as pilot in command; 538 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Low Pressure Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: KFNL Loveland CO
- Destination: KFNL Loveland CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 8,500 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from KFNL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 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.
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.