Cessna 172Q and Cessna T210N mid-air collision near Greeley, Colorado, May 13, 1999
On May 13, 1999 at about 3:02 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172Q (N96299) and Cessna T210N (N5129C), were involved in a mid-air collision near Greeley, Colorado (Greeley-Weld County airport). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of the pilots in the other airplane to maintain a visual lookout. A factor was the failure of the flight instructor to maintain a visual lookout.
Failure of both the pilot receiving instruction and the flight instructor to maintain a visual lookout. A factor was the failure of the other pilot to maintain a visual lookout.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 1999 · about 3:02 pm local time
- Place
- Greeley, Colorado · Greeley-Weld County · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 172Q · all 172Qs on the register
- Registration
- N96299 · registry record · serial 17276054
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N5129C · no longer on the register · serial 21063707
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172Q final · quoted from the NTSB record
N96299, a Cessna 172Q, was inbound on the localizer and was executing the ILS approach to runway 9. The private pilot in the left seat was wearing an instrument hood, and the flight instructor in the right seat was maintaining a visual lookout. N5129C, a Cessna T210N, had completed the VOR-A approach, and had entered the traffic pattern for landing on runway 9. Both the private pilot in the left seat and the flight instructor in the right seat were maintaining visual lookouts. Seconds after the 210 pilot turned onto final approach, the collision occurred. Both airplanes landed safely. The 172 had minor damage. The 210 sustained substantial damage, including a destroyed right wing upper spar cap and a damaged right aileron that reduced roll control.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna T210N final · quoted from the NTSB record
N96299, a Cessna 172Q, was inbound on the localizer and was executing the ILS approach to runway 9. The private pilot in the left seat was wearing an instrument hood, and the flight instructor in the right seat was maintaining a visual lookout. N5129C, a Cessna T210N, had completed the VOR-A approach, and had entered the traffic pattern for landing on runway 9. Both the private pilot in the left seat and the flight instructor in the right seat were maintaining visual lookouts. Seconds after the 210 pilot turned onto final approach, the collision occurred. Both airplanes landed safely. The 172 had minor damage. The 210 sustained substantial damage, including a destroyed right wing upper spar cap and a damaged right aileron that reduced roll control.
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 for the Cessna 172Q from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all; 950 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 1,120 as pilot in command; 800 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,083 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 18, 1999; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4N (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aspen Flying Club, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: APA Englewood CO at 2:20 pm
- Destination: GXY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 9, 6,200 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:15 pm from FNL, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
The factual record for the Cessna T210N from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 82 in the last 90 days; 38 in the last 30 days; 4,000 as pilot in command; 500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,694 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 8, 1998; 136 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EGE Eagle CO at 1:41 pm
- Destination: GXY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 9, 6,200 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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 N96299 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.