Cessna 170B accident near Fort Morgan, Colorado, June 15, 2025
On June 15, 2025 at about 4:18 pm local time, a 1953 Cessna 170B, registered N1996C, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Fort Morgan, Colorado (Fort Morgan Municipal Airport). It was a personal 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 pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the tailwheel-equipped airplane during a gusty crosswind landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 2025 · about 4:18 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Morgan, Colorado · Fort Morgan Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B, built 1953 · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N1996C · registry record · serial 26141
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting a full stall (3-point) landing in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. The pilot reported that after touchdown a wind gust from the right caused the airplane to roll left and ground loop. The fuselage and left wing were substantially damaged during the ground loop when the left landing gear collapsed. Based on the reported wind direction and speed at the airport, there was likely a right crosswind component of about 6 to 9 knots at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.
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 control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,600 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: August 20, 2024
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,278.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 23, 2024; 4.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C145-2 (piston); 3,279 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GXY Greeley CO at 3:47 pm
- Destination: FMM Fort Morgan CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 5,731 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 13 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 10:15 am from FMM
Weather report (METAR): KFMM 151615Z AUTO 18013G18KT 10SM CLR A3009 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on January 9, 2026. 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 | Meteorological Data | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 7 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.