Cessna 172M accident near Keenesburg, Colorado, June 23, 1991
On June 23, 1991 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N1241U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Keenesburg, Colorado (Sauter Farm airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S MISJUDGING THE APPROACH, AND DISREGARD OF WIND CONDITIONS. FACTORS WERE: A TAILWIND CONDITION AND THE PILOT'S ANXIETY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 1991 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Keenesburg, Colorado · Sauter Farm · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N1241U · registry record · serial 17266936
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND AT HIS FARM AIRSTRIP AFTER HIS PASSENGERS BECAME AIRSICK. HE WAS ANXIOUS TO LAND AND 'RUSHED' THE APPROACH. THE APPROACH TO THE 5000 FOOT DIRT RUNWAY WAS MADE TO THE NORTH. FINAL APPROACH SPEED WAS 80 KIAS. THE WINDS WERE OUT OF THE SOUTH, BUT THE PILOT DID NOT CONSIDER IT TO BE A FACTOR SINCE THE RUNWAY WAS ABOUT 5000 FEET LONG. THE AIRPLANE FLOATED A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE BEFORE TOUCHING DOWN AND IT BECAME APPARENT INSUFFICIENT RUNWAY REMAINED TO BRING THE AIRPLANE TO A HALT. BUILDINGS AND POWERLINES PRECLUDED A SUCCESSFUL GO AROUND. THE AIRPLANE WENT OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 335 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 150 as pilot in command
- 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: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Northern Colorado Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: GXY Greeley CO at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 5,000 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 50 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 | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N1241U the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.