Cessna 150D accident near Fort Collins, Colorado, July 25, 1997
On July 25, 1997 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Cessna 150D, registered N4228U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Collins, Colorado (Fort Collins Downtown airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Inadequate preflight planning by loading the aircraft over the maximum certificated gross weight, failure to follow procedures and directives by using flaps for takeoff and failing to properly lean the engine for optimum power, and stalling the aircraft. Factors were: Poor judgement by the pilot in operating the aircraft without a current annual inspection, for forging his medical certificate, and failing to obtain and use the proper Owner's Manual for the aircraft. Also, factors were insufficient requirements for the Owner's Manual by the FAA and inadequate aircraft manual information by the manufacturer.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 25, 1997 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Collins, Colorado · Fort Collins Downtown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150D · all 150Ds on the register
- Registration
- N4228U · no longer on the register · serial 15060228
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During initial climb following takeoff on a cross-country flight, the aircraft failed to attain a sustained climb and impacted in a field approximately 2 miles from the departure end of the runway. Weather conditions at the time were temperature 92 degrees F, wind calm, and the airport elevation was 4,699 feet msl. The aircraft had been modified by STC to a tailwheel configuration. The Owner's Manual in the aircraft was for the wrong year and model. The aircraft was 32 pounds over maximum gross weight. The pilot was using 10 degrees flaps for takeoff. There are no performance charts for the use of flaps for takeoff and in the narrative portion of the Owner's Manual. The manual recommends that flaps not be used for takeoff from high altitude airports on hot days. In addition, the aircraft was out of annual, the pilot had a forged medical certificate, some work on the aircraft had been performed by the pilot and signed off and he did not possess a mechanic license, and the signatures on the spark plugs revealed the aircraft engine was not leaned for optimum performance.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 343 hours in all; 304 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,156 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1996; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3V5 at 3:13 pm
- Destination: D02 Osage IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 4,699 ft by 48 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.