Cessna 170B accident near Fort Collins, Colorado, April 6, 2008
On April 6, 2008 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N2232D, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Fort Collins, Colorado (Fort Collins-Loveland Muni 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 during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 6, 2008 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Collins, Colorado · Fort Collins-Loveland Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2232D · no longer on the register · serial 20384
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he was departing runway 33 when the tail came up and went "hard right" and the airplane veered to the left. The pilot attempted to correct with the addition of brake and rudder; however, the airplane departed the runway to the left and nosed over resulting in substantial damage. Winds around the time of the accident were recorded as 230 degrees at 3 knots. An examination of the airplane systems revealed no anomalies.
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 takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
- Runway excursion during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 125 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 94 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,372 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-145 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FNL Fort Collins CO at 8:15 pm
- Destination: GXY Greeley CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 8,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 8:15 pm from KFNL, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.