Amateur-built USA and Cessna 152 incident near Fort Collins, Colorado, November 12, 2004
On November 12, 2004 at about 11:25 pm local time, 2 aircraft, amateur-built USA (N1518) and Cessna 152 (N5531P), were involved in the same incident near Fort Collins, Colorado (Fort Collins-Loveland Municipa airport). 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
the Blair-American and the Cessna pilot's inadequate visual lookout, and student pilot's failure to give right-of-way to a landing aircraft, which resulted in a runway incursion and subsequent collision. Contributing factors include the student instructor's inadequate supervision, and the student pilot's failure to follow procedures/directives, diverted attention and inadequate radio communications.
the Blair-American and the Cessna pilot's inadequate visual lookout, and student pilot's failure to give right-of-way to a landing aircraft, which resulted in a runway incursion and subsequent collision. Contributing factors include the student instructor's inadequate supervision, and the student pilot's failure to follow procedures/directives, diverted attention and inadequate radio communications.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 12, 2004 · about 11:25 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Collins, Colorado · Fort Collins-Loveland Municipa · map
- Type
- Incident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Amateur-built USA
- Registration
- N1518 · registry record · serial 001
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N5531P · no longer on the register · serial 15284969
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built USA final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot aboard the Blair-American, he was in the pattern behind a Piper and although he did not hear the Cessna, he was in radio communication with the Piper. He stated that he noticed a Cessna taxiing while he was on downwind for runway 33. He announced his intention to land several times while on "short final," and to advise the Piper that he was landing behind him. He became concerned that the Piper was still on the runway, but the Piper had cleared the runway before he reached the runway's threshold. With the Piper off the runway, he continued his approach, landed, and taxied to the ramp. The pilot stated that he did not see the Cessna move from the hold position and onto the runway. According to the pilot aboard the Cessna, she was holding short of the runway to allow a Piper to land. She said the Piper made a long, slow rollout. She then taxied into takeoff position. As she began her take off roll, she noticed that the Piper was still on the runway. She reduced power momentarily, and when the Piper cleared the runway, she applied full power and resumed her take off roll. At that moment, she noticed an airplane land in front of her. She reduced power, applied brakes, and stopped her airplane on the runway. According to the student pilot's instructor, the Blair-American flew over the Cessna and landed. The Blair-American continued its landing roll and taxied to the parking ramp. Airport personnel approached the pilot in the Blair-American, and informed him that he had struck another airplane during his landing. According to the FAA inspector, the Cessna sustained minor damage to one propeller blade, a ruptured left main landing gear tire, and a separated rotating beacon. The Blair-American had no discernible damage.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot aboard the Blair-American, he was in the pattern behind a Piper and although he did not hear the Cessna, he was in radio communication with the Piper. He stated that he noticed a Cessna taxiing while he was on downwind for runway 33. He announced his intention to land several times while on "short final," and to advise the Piper that he was landing behind him. He became concerned that the Piper was still on the runway, but the Piper had cleared the runway before he reached the runway's threshold. With the Piper off the runway, he continued his approach, landed, and taxied to the ramp. The pilot stated that he did not see the Cessna move from the hold position and onto the runway. According to the pilot aboard the Cessna, she was holding short of the runway to allow a Piper to land. She said the Piper made a long, slow rollout. She then taxied into takeoff position. As she began her take off roll, she noticed that the Piper was still on the runway. She reduced power momentarily, and when the Piper cleared the runway, she applied full power and resumed her take off roll. At that moment, she noticed an airplane land in front of her. She reduced power, applied brakes, and stopped her airplane on the runway. According to the student pilot's instructor, the Blair-American flew over the Cessna and landed. The Blair-American continued its landing roll and taxied to the parking ramp. Airport personnel approached the pilot in the Blair-American, and informed him that he had struck another airplane during his landing. According to the FAA inspector, the Cessna sustained minor damage to one propeller blade, a ruptured left main landing gear tire, and a separated rotating beacon. The Blair-American had no discernible damage.
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 for the amateur-built USA from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 26,300 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 103 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 25,500 as pilot in command; 11,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 5, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,488 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 20, 2004; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,393 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CDS Childress TX at 9:15 pm
- Destination: FNL Fort Collins CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 8,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 150 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 10:47 pm from KBJC, 34 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 152 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 16 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,967.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 29, 2004; 17.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FNL Fort Collins CO at 11:25 pm
- Destination: FNL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 8,500 ft by 100 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.