Cessna 172N accident near Longmont, Colorado, May 4, 2025
On May 4, 2025 at about 6:00 pm local time, a 1976 Cessna 172N, registered N75775, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Longmont, Colorado (Vance Brand airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The disconnected throttle control that resulted in a loss of engine power due to improper maintenance.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 4, 2025 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Longmont, Colorado · Vance Brand · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N, built 1976 · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N75775 · registry record · serial 17267941
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot stated that he was on final approach when he noticed that the engine was not responding to his throttle control changes. The engine speed was about 2,000 rpm when he attempted a go-around; however, the engine power did not increase as he applied full throttle, and the airplane would not climb due to the low power setting. The student noted that the engine subsequently lost power completely and he executed a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the airplane struck a fence and nosed over. The airframe sustained substantial damage to the right wing, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. A post-accident examination determined that the throttle cable was disconnected from the carburetor. Both the throttle cable and the carburetor control arm moved freely and there was no evidence of damage to either component. The connecting hardware – bolt and nut – were not observed at the time of the examination. Airplane maintenance records revealed that a 100-hour inspection was completed three weeks before the accident, and the engine carburetor was replaced at that time. The airplane had accumulated about 9.9 hours flight time since that maintenance work. The mechanic stated that an apprentice had replaced the carburetor and the mechanic had gotten busy with other tasks and did not fully inspect the apprentice’s work.
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 (partial) during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine controls › Power lever › Inoperative
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine controls › Power lever › Incorrect service/maintenance
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 93.3 hours in all; 93.3 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 4, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,115.7 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 28, 2025; 9.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 6,238 hours total
- Operator: Western Air Flight Academy
The flight
- Departed from: BJC Broomfield CO at 5:30 pm
- Destination: LMO Longmont CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 4,799 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 am from KLMO
Weather report (METAR): METAR KLMO 041755Z AUTO 34005KT 10SM CLR 21/03 A2989
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Airplane at the Accident Site (FAA Photo)
Photograph 2 – Airplane at the Accident Site (FAA Photo)
Photograph 3 – Airplane at the Accident Site (FAA Photo)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
5 documents, released by the NTSB on September 3, 2025. 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 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector Statements | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Maintenance Records -- Airframe | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Maintenance Records -- Engine | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.