Cessna 152 accident near Avondale, Colorado, August 9, 1982
On August 9, 1982 at about 3:50 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N757ES, was substantially damaged in an accident near Avondale, Colorado (Huerfand AG Airstrip airport). It was an instructional 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
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 9, 1982 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Avondale, Colorado · Huerfand AG Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N757ES · no longer on the register · serial 15279686
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON A PRIVATE PILOT CHECK FLIGHT WITH A DESIGNATED FLIGHT EXAMINER. WHILE DEMONSTRATING BALKED LANDINGS, THE GO-AROUND PROCEDURE WAS IMPROPER. THEREFORE, THE EXAMINER ASKED THE STUDENT TO REPEAT THE PROCEDURE ON THE NEXT APPROACH (A SHORT FIELD LANDING APPROACH). DURING THE APPROACH, THE AIRCRAFT HAD DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT WHEN THE GO-AROUND WAS INITIATED. REPORTEDLY, THE NOSE GEAR CONTACTED A 2 FT BURR ALONG THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY. THE FLIGHT EXAMINER STATED THAT APPARENTLY THE STUDENT HAD RAISED THE FLAPS FULL UP WHEN HE INITIATED THE GO-AROUND. AT THAT POINT, THE EXAMINER TOOK THE CONTROLS AND ATTEMPTED TO GET THE AIRCRAFT BACK ON THE RUNWAY AND STOPPED, SINCE IT HAD SLOWED DOWN TOO MUCH TO CLEAR A 30 FT POWER LINE AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. HOWEVER, DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE PLANE NOSED OVER. DURING THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE, THE NOSE WHEEL WAS DRIVEN COMPLETELY AFT.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 60 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 21 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,794 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Fremont Air Services
The flight
- Departed from: Avondale CO at 9:20 am
- Destination: Avondale CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,600 ft by 30 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 176°F (80°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.