Cessna 152 accident near Erie, Colorado, May 22, 1990
On May 22, 1990 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N714UE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Erie, Colorado. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
CFI'S FAILURE TO ENSURE THAT THE STUDENT PILOT MAINTAINED SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED, RESULTING IN THE INADVERTENT STALL/MUSH. A FACTOR WAS THE DOWNDRAFT EXPERIENCED AT LOW ALTITUDE AFTER TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 1990 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Erie, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N714UE · no longer on the register · serial 15279437
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A NEW STUDENT PILOT AND HIS CFI WERE ON INITIAL CLIMB, AT 150 FEET AGL, WITH THE LEFT SEAT STUDENT AS THE SOLE MANIPULATOR OF THE CONTROLS. THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT, THE STUDENT LOST CONTROL, AND THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. THE CFI WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND THE PLANE STRUCK THE TERRAIN IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE. THE NOSE GEAR WAS SHEARED, THE PLANE NOSED OVER, THE TAIL SECTION SEPARATED AFT OF THE CABIN AND THE FUSELAGE TUMBLED END FOR END TWICE. THE CABIN CAME TO REST INVERTED. THE OCCUPANTS THEN EXITED AND NOTICED A SMALL FIRE IN GASCOLATOR AREA, WHICH SELF-EXTINGUISHED IN A FEW MINUTES.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,050 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 700 as pilot in command; 360 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ 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
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: 48V
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 16,000 ft; scat at 8,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 5:30 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.