Cessna 172H accident near Del Norte, Colorado, October 21, 1989
On October 21, 1989 at about 7:05 pm local time, a Cessna 172H, registered N1639F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Del Norte, Colorado (Del Norte airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING CLIMB RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 21, 1989 · about 7:05 pm local time
- Place
- Del Norte, Colorado · Del Norte · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172H · all 172Hs on the register
- Registration
- N1639F · no longer on the register · serial 1755034
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT AND A PLT RATED PASSENGER WERE PRACTICING TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS. THE PLT SAID HE MADE A LANDING AND TAKEOFF BUT COULD NOT REMEMBER THE DETAILS OF THE CRASH. THE PAX SAID THE PLANE SEEMED SLOW DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, THEN IT STALLED AND THE NOSE FELL, STRIKING THE DIRT RUNWAY. THERE WERE 2 WITNESSES ON THE SCENE AND THEY REPORTED THAT THE LEFT WING ROLLED LOW, THEN THE NOSE LOWERED AND 'LANDED HARD ON THE DIRT RUNWAY.'
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 697 hours in all; 53 in this make and model; 617 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,785 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 25, 1989; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8V1 at 6:55 pm
- Destination: 8V1
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 6,800 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.