Cessna LC41-550FG accident near Grand Junction, Colorado, February 24, 2016
On February 24, 2016 at about 1:10 am local time, a 2009 Cessna LC41-550FG, registered N10580, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Grand Junction, Colorado (Grand Junctiion Regional airport). It was a flight test 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
Failure of the right main tire for reasons that could not be determined because the tire was not available for examination.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 24, 2016 · about 1:10 am local time · cases in 2016
- Place
- Grand Junction, Colorado · Grand Junctiion Regional · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna LC41-550FG, built 2009 · all LC41-550FGs on the register
- Registration
- N10580 · registry record · serial 411150
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during landing following a postmaintenance test flight, the airplane suddenly veered to the right and struck a taxiway sign. Postaccident photographs revealed that the right main tire blew; however, the investigation was unable to determine why the tire failed because the owner discarded the tire before the investigation was complete.
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
- Aircraft structural failure during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft structures › (general) › (general) › Failure other cases naming the airframe structure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,672 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 3,236 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 2, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,120 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 5,872 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 5, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 641 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 22, 2016
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-550-C11B (piston); 642 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GJT Grand Junction CO
- Destination: GJT Grand Junction CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 11, 10,501 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on September 12, 2016. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | E-mail from Goodyear Tire Company | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | E-mail from Desser Tire Company | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Report Photos | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N10580 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna LC41 144 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,677 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental TSIO-550-C11B 382 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Grand Junction Regional · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Colorado 2,860 since 1982 · 383 in the last ten years
- Colorado 7,486 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN16LA108.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.