Cessna 172A accident near Leadville, Colorado, December 26, 1982
On December 26, 1982 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172A, registered N7611T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Leadville, Colorado (Lake County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 3 people were seriously injured. 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
- December 26, 1982 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Leadville, Colorado · Lake County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172A · all 172As on the register
- Registration
- N7611T · no longer on the register · serial 47211
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHEN A WITNESS ARRIVED AT THE ARPT, THE ACFT WAS AT THE FUEL PUMPS & THE PLT HAD THE PREHEATER ATTACHED. THE WITNESS RPRTD THERE WAS FROST ON THE ACFT & THE PLT BRUSHED THE LOOSE FROST OFF WITH HIS HANDS. THE PLT ASKED FOR A WINDOW SCRAPER, WHICH WAS PROVIDED, BUT THE WITNESS DID NOT KNOW WHAT HE DID WITH IT. AFT REFUELING, THE PLT STARTED THE ENG & REMAINED ON THE RAMP A SHORT TIME BFR TAXIING. A TKOF WAS INITIATED FROM THE 5300 FT RWY IN CALM WND CONDS. THE ELEV & TEMP WERE 9927 FT MSL & 2 DEG F. REPORTEDLY, THE ACFT ROLLED FOR MORE THAN 3/4 OF THE RWY LENGTH BEFORE BCMG AIRBORNE. THE WITNESS RPRTD THAT AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE ACFT DID NOT GAIN ALTITUDE, BUT REMAINED LOW, BGN A LFT TURN, THEN WENT DOWN.ANOTHER WITNESS OBSVD THE ACFT FALL FROM A LOW ALT & CRASH IN A LFT WING LOW ATTITUDE. A PAX RPRTD THE PLANE SEEMED TO SLOW DWN & LOSE ALT AFT TKOF, AS IF IT WAS TOO HVY. HOWEVER, DISREGARDING ANY FROST/ICE, THE ACFT WAS ESTIMATED 88 LBS BLO THE MAX WT LMT. NO PREIMPACT, MECHANICAL FAILURE WERE FOUND WITH THE AIRFRAME OR ENG.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 324 hours in all; 324 in this make and model; 294 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,489 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,199 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LXV Leadville CO at 8:25 am
- Destination: 36U Heber City UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 5,300 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 am from LXV
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.