Cessna 170B accident near Greeley, Colorado, August 23, 1986
On August 23, 1986 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N2790D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greeley, Colorado (Greeley-Weld CO. 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 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 23, 1986 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Greeley, Colorado · Greeley-Weld CO.
- 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
- N2790D · registry record · serial 25332
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT WAS FERRYING ACFT FROM GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO TO TROY, MO. ACFT WAS OUT OF ANNUAL (3-84) AND A SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE WAS ISSUED. PLT LIKEWISE HAD NOT FLOWN FOR 2 YEARS. PLT ACCOMPLISHED THE MANDATORY BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT AND REPORTED LOGGING 4 HRS FLT TIME IN THE 24 HRS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. PLT SAID HE MADE NORMAL APCH TO RWY 09 BUT DURING FLARE REALIZED HE WAS TOO HIGH. ACFT MADE HARD LANDING, BLOWING RIGHT MAIN TIRE. PLT ADDED POWER IN ATTEMPT TO GO AROUND BUT ACFT GROUND LOOPED.
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: 118 hours in all; 118 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 63 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,312 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C145-2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GWS Glenwood Spring CO at 11:30 am
- Destination: O2MO Troy MO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 9, 6,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 12 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.