Cessna 172N accident near Fort Collins, Colorado, September 27, 1992
On September 27, 1992 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N5222D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Collins, Colorado (Downtown Fort Collins 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 OF THE AIRPLANE. A FACTOR WAS: CROSSWIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 27, 1992 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Collins, Colorado · Downtown Fort Collins · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N5222D · registry record · serial 17272456
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT FLARED THE AIRPLANE FOR LANDING WHEN A GUST OF WIND CAUSED THE AIRPLANE TO DEPART THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT CLOSED CARBURETOR HEAT, APPLIED FULL THROTTLE, AND BEGAN RETRACTING THE FLAPS IN AN ATTEMPT TO ABORT THE LANDING. THE PILOT SAW A DITCH AND ATTEMPTED TO AVOID IT, BUT THE LEFT WIND TIP STRUCK A TREE BRANCH AND THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR HIT THE DITCH, SPINNING THE AIRPLANE AROUND. WINDS WERE REPORTED GUSTING TO 25 KNOTS.
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: 32 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 4 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,310 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 11, 1992; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 4,699 ft by 48 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 18 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:35 pm from FCL, 10 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.