Cessna 152 accident near Falcon, Colorado, January 4, 1992
On January 4, 1992 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N774WS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Falcon, Colorado. 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
ENGINE FAILURE OVER UNSUITABLE TERRAIN DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. FACTORS WERE: PILOT INEXPERIENCE AND BECOMING LOST AND DISORIENTED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 4, 1992 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Falcon, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N774WS · no longer on the register · serial 152799971
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY TRAINING FLIGHT AND BECAME LOST AND DISORIENTED. HE FLEW BY HIS INTENDED DESTINATION AND CONTINUED UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE FAILED DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. A LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED IN A SOFT FIELD AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER.
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: 67 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 19 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,051 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 31, 1991; 6 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: BFF Scottsbluff NE at 6:00 pm
- Destination: IV5 Boulder CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 99 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.