Cessna R172E incident near Hillrose, Colorado, July 6, 2024
On July 6, 2024 at about 8:26 pm local time, a 1967 Cessna R172E, registered N23788, suffered minor damage in an incident during maneuvering near Hillrose, Colorado. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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 binding of the left flap due to improper maintenance.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 2024 · about 8:26 pm local time
- Place
- Hillrose, Colorado · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna R172E, built 1967 · all R172Es on the register
- Registration
- N23788 · registry record · serial R172E-0092
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor stated that while retracting the flaps after performing a practice stall recovery during the instructional flight, they heard a loud “pop.” The flight instructor took over control of the airplane from the student pilot and noticed that the ailerons were jammed. The flight instructor elected to make an emergency landing on a highway. While maneuvering toward the highway, the flight instructor did not change the flap configuration and had to use rudder control only for directional control. The flight instructor landed the airplane on the highway without incident. A post incident examination revealed that the left flap inboard track angle brackets were pushed forward and detached from their installed location by the flap support arms. This allowed the flap to contact the aileron, jamming its movement. The failed angle brackets appeared to have been replaced; however, there was no entry of the replacement in the airplane logbooks. Neither the rivets on the left flap inboard angle brackets nor the brackets themselves were painted, indicating that they were not produced by an authorized manufacturer. In combination with the installation of unapproved parts and the condition of the upper left flap roller, which did not rotate smoothly, the flap track slot was likely worn enough to allow the flap support arms to contact the replacement left flap inboard track angle brackets during the retraction of the flaps.
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
- Flight control sys malf/fail during maneuvering defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during maneuvering
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › (general) › (general) › Incorrect service/maintenance
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 760 hours in all; 506 in this make and model; 114 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 708 as pilot in command; 412 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 26, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 57 hours in all; 57 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 10 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,036 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 21, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 6,446 hours total
- Operator: Scott Aviation INC
The flight
- Departed from: FMM Fort Morgan CO at 7:37 pm
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 7 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observation at 2:15 pm from KFMM, 16 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KFMM 062015Z AUTO 03007G14KT 360V060 10SM CLR 30/09 A2999 RMK AO2,M
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 |
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 CEN24LA270.