Cessna 172 accident near Denver, Colorado, August 29, 2019
On August 29, 2019 at about 2:10 am local time, a 1981 Cessna 172, registered N53432, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Denver, Colorado (Rocky Mountain Metro airport). It was an instructional 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
A total loss of electrical power for reasons that could not be determined, and the student pilot’s subsequent runway overrun during a no-flap landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 29, 2019 · about 2:10 am local time · cases in 2019
- Place
- Denver, Colorado · Rocky Mountain Metro · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 P, built 1981 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N53432 · no longer on the register · serial 17274748
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was completing a solo cross-country flight when he noticed the low voltage warning light illuminate; however, since the voltmeter continued to indicate about 28 volts (v), he continued the flight to the destination airport and completed a touch-and-go landing before proceeding back to the departure airport. The pilot later stated that he was “not confident that he completely understood how an electrical system failure may affect the aircraft.” As the pilot attempted to lower the flaps before landing, the airplane experienced a complete loss of electrical power, and the flaps did not extend. The student pilot conducted a no-flap landing to the 3,600-ft-long runway, during which the airplane bounced multiple times and continued off the end of the runway and over a retaining wall, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot reported that he had not received training in no-flap landings. Examination of the alternator revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Some wiring associated with the alternator displayed areas of broken insulation and exposed wire; however, it could not be determined if this was due to preaccident chafing or the result of impact damage. Based on the available information, the reason for the loss of electrical power could not be determined.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during approach
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Electrical power system › (general) › Failure other cases naming the electrical power
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Training › Total instruct/training recvd › Student/instructed pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Student/instructed pilot
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 65 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 10 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,299 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: COS Colorado Springs CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03/2, 3,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 050° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 pm from KBJC, 10 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KBJC 290145Z 05003KT 10SM SKC 29/M03 A3011
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Airplane at Accident Site
Photo 2 – Alternator as Installed in Accident Airplane
Photo 3 – Accident Alternator with Damaged Front Housing (Left) and Accident Alternator with Exemplar Front Housing Installed for Testing (Right)The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on February 15, 2022. 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, 14 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Alternator Exam Findings | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Copy of Student Pilot Certificate | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photographs | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N53432 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N53432: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Cessna 172 Skyhawk 20,686 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,677 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES 27,303 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Rocky Mountain Metro Airport · nearest airport
- City Of Colorado Springs Municipal · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Colorado 2,860 since 1982 · 383 in the last ten years
- Colorado 7,486 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N53432 2 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN19LA292.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.