Cessna 172 accident near Greeley, Colorado, September 16, 1988
On September 16, 1988 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N97890, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greeley, Colorado (Greeley/Weld County airport). 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
- September 16, 1988 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Greeley, Colorado · Greeley/Weld County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N97890 · no longer on the register · serial 17276238
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT REPORTED THAT HE WAS MAKING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS. DURING LANDING ROLL THE CROSSWIND LIFTED THE RIGHT WING AND CAUSED THE ACFT TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT. THE STUDENT PLT SAID HE ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE DRIFT, TO NO AVAIL. THE LEFT MAIN WHEEL DEPARTED THE RNWY, ENTERED SOFT, MUDDY TERRAIN AND THE ACFT NOSED 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: student
- Flight time: 16 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,180 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 29, 1988; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,407 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Emery Aviation College
The flight
- Departed from: GXY at 5:45 pm
- Destination: GXY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 7,035 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 8 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.
Other NTSB records under N97890 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.