Cessna 172M accident near Erie, Colorado, October 4, 1991
On October 4, 1991, a Cessna 172M, registered N80650, was substantially damaged in an accident near Erie, Colorado (Tri-County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL LAND HIS INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. FACTORS WERE: CROSSWIND CONDITIONS AND THE PILOT'S TOTAL LACK OF EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 4, 1991
- Place
- Erie, Colorado · Tri-County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N80650 · no longer on the register · serial 17266690
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WINDS WERE REPORTED BY UNICOM AS LIGHT AND VARIABLE OUT OF THE EAST. OFFICIAL WINDS WERE 090 DEGREES AT 15 KNOTS, REPORTED AT AN AIRPORT 8 MILES AWAY. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN AND VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT THOUGHT HE HAD A FLAT TIRE AND CORRECTED WITH RUDDER. THE AIRPLANE RETURNED TO THE RUNWAY CENTER, THEN VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT SAID THE RUDDER PEDALS WERE 'UNRESPONSIVE' AND HE COULD NOT STEER. THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY, STRUCK A DITCH, AND OVERTURNED. POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE DISCLOSED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSAL TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: student
- Flight time: 33 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 5 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no 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: Tri-County Flight School
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 4,700 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 11:45 pm from BJC, 8 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N80650 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.