Cessna 152 accident near Boulder, Colorado, February 16, 1990
On February 16, 1990 at about 8:20 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N25197, was substantially damaged in an accident near Boulder, Colorado (Boulder 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL, WHICH RESULTED IN A GROUND SWERVE. PATCHES OF PACKED SNOW ON THE RUNWAY MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO REGAIN CONTROL AFTER THE INITIAL SWERVE BEGAN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 16, 1990 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Boulder, Colorado · Boulder · 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
- N25197 · registry record · serial 15280529
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON HIS THIRD SOLO FLIGHT AND LANDED AFTER FLYING FOR 30 MIN IN THE PRACTICE AREA. HE SAID THERE WERE PATCHES OF PACKED SNOW ON THE ASPHALT RUNWAY. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN A SWERVE. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO GO AROUND; HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT SWERVED OFF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A FUEL TRUCK.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 23 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 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: 1V5 at 7:50 pm
- Destination: 1V5
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8R, 4,100 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number DEN90LA057.