Cessna 172P accident near Broomfield, Colorado, December 29, 1985
On December 29, 1985 at about 10:38 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N96321, was destroyed in an accident near Broomfield, Colorado (Jeffco airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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 29, 1985 · about 10:38 pm local time
- Place
- Broomfield, Colorado · Jeffco · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N96321 · no longer on the register · serial 17276057
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT DRIFTED OFF THE RUNWAY DURING THE FLARE/TOUCHDOWN PHASE OF LDG DUE TO PLT FAILURE TO CORRECT FOR A 20 KT XWIND CONDITION. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A GO-AROUND AT A LOW A/S AND WITH LDG FLAPS (25 DEGREES) EXTENDED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND COLLISION WITH A WATER TWR, FOLLOWED BY GRND IMPACT AND NOSE OVER.
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: 82 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 51 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 687 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, November 13, 1985; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0320D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 48V Erie CO at 10:15 pm
- Destination: BJC Broomfield CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29R, 7,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:47 pm from BJC
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.