Cessna 150 accident near Greeley, Colorado, September 13, 1992
On September 13, 1992 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N5703E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greeley, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO A DETERIORATED CARBURETOR FLOAT WHICH RESULTED IN ENGINE FLOODING. A FACTOR WAS: UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 13, 1992 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Greeley, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N5703E · registry record · serial 17203
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING INITIAL CLIMB FOLLOWING TAKEOFF THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. DURING THIS PRECAUTIONARY APPROACH THE ENGINE FAILED AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE TO A CORN FIELD. DURING LANDING ROLL THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. INVESTIGATION REVEALED AN STC ALLOWING THE USE OF AUTO FUEL, AND AUTO FUEL WAS ABOARD. IN ADDITION, THE CARBURETOR WAS EQUIPPED WITH A COMPOSITE FLOAT VICE METAL FLOAT. THE FLOAT WAS SATURATED CAUSING ENGINE FLOODING.
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: 614 hours in all; 489 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 552 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GXY at 7:30 pm
- Destination: BJC Broomfield CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:34 pm from GXY, 3 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.
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.