Cessna 152 accident near Craig, Colorado, June 21, 1995
On June 21, 1995 at about 1:30 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N45936, was substantially damaged in an accident near Craig, 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
THE PILOT BECAME LOST AND DISORIENTED, RESULTING IN FUEL EXHAUSTION. FACTORS WERE THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING AND THE OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 1995 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Craig, 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
- N45936 · no longer on the register · serial 15282950
- 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 THE RETURN LEG OF A SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. HE WAS UNABLE TO GET THE COURSE DEVIATION INDICATOR TO CENTER, SO HE USED PILOTAGE TO NAVIGATE. HE WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY LANDMARKS AND ENTERED A WRONG CANYON. HE SIGHTED WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 15 AND BELIEVED HE WAS SOUTH OF PROVO (IT WAS ACTUALLY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 80 AND THE PILOT WAS IN NORTHERN UTAH). AFTER FOLLOWING THE HIGHWAY FOR SOME TIME, THE PILOT REALIZED HE HAD MADE A MISTAKE AND TURNED AROUND. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ENGINE LOST POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AND THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE NOSEWHEEL FOLDED BACK AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. A PLACARD ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL READ, 'TO/FROM FLAG REVERSED TEMPORARILY.'
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: 29 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 8 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,925 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, May 18, 1995; 123 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Alpine Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: VEL Vernal UT at 10:15 pm
- Destination: PVO Provo UT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:35 am from HDN, 27 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.