Cessna 172 accident near Steamboat Sprin, Colorado, April 22, 1991
On April 22, 1991 at about 9:50 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N6231K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Steamboat Sprin, Colorado (Steamboat Springs airport). 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
THE CFI USED POOR JUDGEMENT IN GIVING A SIMULATED ENGINE FAILURE BY TURNING OFF THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 22, 1991 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Steamboat Sprin, Colorado · Steamboat Springs · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N6231K · no longer on the register · serial 17274176
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PRE SOLO INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR GAVE THE STUDENT A SIMULATED ENGINE FAILURE, WHILE IN THE AIRPORT TRAFFIC PATTERN, BY TURNING OFF THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE. WHEN THE VALVE WAS TURNED BACK ON, THE ENGINE DID NOT RESTART IN A TIMELY FASHION AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A FIELD. DUE TO SOFT TERRAIN, THE NOSE WHEEL DUG IN DURING LANDING ROLL AND THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED ON ITS BACK.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,321 hours in all; 760 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 1,149 as pilot in command; 721 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: 2,407 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.