Cessna 152 accident near Fort Collins, Colorado, March 9, 1988
On March 9, 1988 at about 2:25 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N47567, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Collins, Colorado. It was an instructional 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
- March 9, 1988 · about 2:25 am local time
- Place
- Fort Collins, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N47567 · registry record · serial 15283236
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PLT WAS PERFORMING A NIGHT SOLO TRAINING FLIGHT IN THE LOCAL AREA. AFTER SEVERAL STOP AND GO LANDINGS, THE PLT WAS RETURNING TO HER HOME AIRPORT. AT 6300FT MSL, IN CRUISE FLIGHT, THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE QUIT. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL. A FORCED LANDING WAS PERFORMED ON A PLOWED FIELD. AT TOUCHDOWN, THE NOSE GEAR DUG INTO THE SOFT TERRAIN, COLLAPSED, AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. A POST ACCIDENT ENGINE INSPECTION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE TO EXPLAIN THE REPORTED ENGINE FAILURE. DURING A POST ACCIDENT ENGINE RUN, THE ENGINE OPERATED TO 2200 RPM WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS BEING NOTED. AFTER FOUR ENGINE RUNS, SOME DEBRIS WAS REMOVED FROM THE CARBURETOR, AND THE BOTTOM FOUR PLUGS SHOWED SOME LEADING.
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: 143 hours in all; 110 in this make and model; 71 in the last 90 days; 80 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,258 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 2, 1987; 92 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GXY Greeley CO at 1:25 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.