Cessna 172N accident near Broomfield, Colorado, April 26, 1996
On April 26, 1996 at about 3:48 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N75839, was substantially damaged in an accident near Broomfield, Colorado (Broomfield-Jefferson CO.). 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the student pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and his failure to obtain/maintain directional control. A factor was the cross wind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 26, 1996 · about 3:48 pm local time
- Place
- Broomfield, Colorado · Broomfield-Jefferson CO. · 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
- N75839 · registry record · serial 17267994
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was on downwind leg to runway 11L when the control tower operator advised the pilot that wind velocity had increased to 15 knots. On final approach, the pilot was advised the wind velocity had dropped to 5 knots. The pilot said the airplane was then to the left of the runway centerline, and he maneuvered to correct the alignment. The airplane touched down with a side load because the nose was not pointed down the runway. The airplane departed the left side of the runway onto a high speed turnoff, crossed a parallel taxiway and struck the taxiway sign. The nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to a halt on the parking ramp. The wind was reported to be from 070 degrees at 10 knots, with gusts to 16 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: 21 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,049 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 25, 1996; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mile High Aviation Svc, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: BJC CO at 3:15 pm
- Destination: BJC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11L, 9,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 10 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:48 pm from BJC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number FTW96LA182.