Cessna 172M accident near Meeker, Colorado, April 26, 1993
On April 26, 1993 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N4472R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Meeker, Colorado (Meeker 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 IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. A FACTOR WAS: GUSTY CROSSWINDS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 26, 1993 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Meeker, Colorado · Meeker · 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
- N4472R · registry record · serial 17263214
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT, ON A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, WAS MAKING A LANDING APPROACH TO RUNWAY 21. WINDS WERE REPORTED TO BE FROM 180 DEGREES AT 18 KNOTS. THE PILOT SAID AS HE FLARED FOR LANDING, A GUST OF WIND LIFTED THE AIRPLANE BACK INTO THE AIR THEN IT DROPPED TO THE GROUND. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE CAME TO A HALT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPORT MANAGER SAID THERE WERE 'GUSTY CROSSWINDS' AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, GUSTING FROM 18 KNOTS 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; 32 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 13 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: 4,613 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 6, 1993; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RIL Rifle CO at 7:15 pm
- Destination: 2V3 CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 21, 6,500 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 18 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,000 ft; not recorded at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.