Cessna 195 accident near Longmont, Colorado, September 7, 2002
On September 7, 2002 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 195, registered N4381V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Longmont, Colorado (Vance Brand airport). It was a personal 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
separation of the tail wheel cables, resulting in a loss of directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 7, 2002 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Longmont, Colorado · Vance Brand · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 195 · all 195s on the register
- Registration
- N4381V · no longer on the register · serial 7303
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
As the airplane slowed following landing, the pilot attempted to turn right onto a taxiway using full right rudder. The airplane made a sudden 90 degree left turn, scraping the right wing tip, and came to a halt. Using differential braking, the pilot taxied back to the hangar. The tail wheel cables were found separated.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 708 hours in all; 87 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: September 12, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,458 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 2, 2001; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs R-755-S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GXY Greeley CO at 9:30 pm
- Destination: 2V2 Longmont CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 4,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 200 ft; scat at 80 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 9:46 pm from BJC, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.