Cessna 172RG accident near Aspen, Colorado, July 28, 1987
On July 28, 1987 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172RG, registered N4709R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Aspen, Colorado (Sardy Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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
- July 28, 1987 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Aspen, Colorado · Sardy Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172RG · all 172RGs on the register
- Registration
- N4709R · registry record · serial 172RG0013
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT SAID THAT BECAUSE OF THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IN THE LOCAL AREA HE WAS DISTRACTED FROM CONCENTRATING ON HIS FLYING. DURING HIS LANDING APPROACH, HE FAILED TO EXTEND THE LANDING GEAR AND LANDED THE AIRCRAFT WHEELS UP.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 260 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 54 in the last 90 days; 160 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,065 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 17, 1987; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-F1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aspen Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: PGA Page AZ at 6:00 pm
- Destination: ASE
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 15, 7,003 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:15 pm from ASE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.