Cessna 152 accident near Fountain, Colorado, July 24, 1991
On July 24, 1991 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N24204, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fountain, Colorado. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ON WHICH TO MAKE A LANDING. FACTORS WERE: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING, AND WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT INCLUDED LOW CEILING, OBSCURATION, FOG, AND DRIZZLE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 1991 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fountain, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N24204 · registry record · serial 15280148
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD BEEN HIRED TO FERRY THE RECENTLY PURCHASED AIRPLANE FROM SANTA BARBARA, CA, TO AURORA, CO. HE SAID HE LAST PURCHASED FUEL IN LAS VEGAS, NM, AND FLEW TO RATON, NM, WHERE HE SPENT THE NIGHT IN THE AIRPLANE. HE DEPARTED RATON AT 0700 THE NEXT MORNING. NEAR COLORADO SPRINGS, HE ENCOUNTERED LOW CEILING, OBSCURATION, FOG AND DRIZZLE. HE REVERSED COURSE BUT WEATHER CONDITIONS DETERIORATED. NOT BEING INSTRUMENT RATED, HE ELECTED TO LAND ATOP A MESA. DURING THE ROLLOUT, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A RUT AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PILOT DID NOT GET A PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING.
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: 215 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 91 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: RTN Raton NM at 1:00 pm
- Destination: 01V Watkins CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 7 knots
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.