Cessna 172S accident near Lasalle, Colorado, September 10, 2021
On September 10, 2021 at about 5:00 pm local time, a 2004 Cessna 172S, registered N2099J, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Lasalle, Colorado. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 10, 2021 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lasalle, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172S, built 2004 · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N2099J · no longer on the register · serial 172S9586
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
** This report was modified on January 13, 2026. Please see the docket for this accident to view the original report. ** The flight instructor and student pilot were conducting a simulated off-field emergency landing as part of a pre-solo cross-country progress check. The flight instructor told the student pilot to break off the maneuver and apply engine power, but the airplane’s engine did not respond when power was added. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and attempted to restart the engine with no success. He then declared an emergency and performed a 180° power-off turn to a field. During the touchdown, the airplane contacted a raised embankment, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine showed no preaccident failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. As a result, the cause of the total loss of engine 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
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR go-around)
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
- Unknown or undetermined during unknown defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 938 hours in all; 893 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 6, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 66 hours in all; 66 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,429 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 14, 2021
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BJC Broomfield CO at 4:00 pm
- Destination: BJC Broomfield CO
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 am from KGXY, 6 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KGXY 101656Z AUTO VRB04KT 10SM CLR 28/06 A3015 RMK AO2 SLP172 T02780061
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on August 23, 2023. 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 | Airframe and Engine Examination | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Flight Instructor's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Student Pilot's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Witnesses Statements | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photographs | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Carburetor Icing Chart | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Memo to Revise Coding Analysis Pc and Factual Report CEN21LA414 | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 8 | CEN21LA414 Original Report with Track Changes | PDF, 9 pages | 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 N2099J 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.