Cessna C-152 accident near Golden, Colorado, June 24, 1990
On June 24, 1990 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Cessna C-152, registered N757KL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Golden, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S DISREGARD FOR AIRPLANE PERFORMANCE DATA. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND THE FACT THAT AIRPLANE CLIMB PERFORMANCE CAPABILITY WAS EXCEEDED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 1990 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Golden, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C-152
- Registration
- N757KL · no longer on the register · serial 15279800
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT RENTED N757KL FROM A BASE OPERATOR AT LONGMONT, COLORADO, TO TAKE HIS FRIEND ON A LOCAL PLEASURE FLIGHT. WHILE FLYING IN A MOUNTAINOUS AREA ALONG THE NORTH SIDE OF A CANYON, THE PILOT NOTICED THAT HE WAS LOSING ALTITUDE. HE SAID THAT HE CHECKED HIS INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS BUT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN FLIGHT. HE SAID THAT JUST BEFORE IMPACT, HE PUT DOWN FULL FLAPS AND STALLED THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND AND NOSED OVER. HE ESTIMATED THE TEMPERATURE WAS 80 DEGREES. THE ACCIDENT SITE ELEVATION WAS 8000 FEET DENSITY ALTITUDE.
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: 117 hours in all; 71 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 64 as pilot in command; 55 on instruments
- 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: 2V2 Longmont CO
- Destination: 2V2
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 55 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 2:47 pm from BJC, 15 miles away
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.