Cessna 170B accident near Coloradosprings, Colorado, October 23, 1985
On October 23, 1985 at about 11:14 pm local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N170CE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Coloradosprings, Colorado (Colorado Springs Muni 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
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
- October 23, 1985 · about 11:14 pm local time
- Place
- Coloradosprings, Colorado · Colorado Springs Muni
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N170CE · no longer on the register · serial 20777
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TOOK OFF ON RUNWAY 17. THE WIND WAS REPORTED TO BE FROM 130 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS. AFTER LIFTOFF THE LEFT WING ROSE ABRUPTLY AND THE AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT STATED THAT BECAUSE OF HIS LOW ALTITUDE HE COULD NOT REGAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE IT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND.
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: 188 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 137 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,703 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental 145-2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Westcliff CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 11,021 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 65 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:18 pm from COS
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.