Cessna 172 accident near Broomfield, Colorado, February 17, 2018
On February 17, 2018 at about 4:20 am local time, a 1973 Cessna 172, registered N13453, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Broomfield, Colorado (Rocky Mountain Metropolitan airport). It was a personal 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 failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll in gusting wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 17, 2018 · about 4:20 am local time
- Place
- Broomfield, Colorado · Rocky Mountain Metropolitan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 M, built 1973 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N13453 · no longer on the register · serial 17262763
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during the landing roll on runway 30, about 10 miles per hour, in gusting wind conditions, the airplane exited the right side of the runway and collided with a drainage culvert and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing lift strut, the rudder and the vertical stabilizer. The METAR at the accident airport reported that about the time of the accident, the wind was from 240° at 27 kts and gusting to 40 kts. The manufacturer's pilot operating handbook specified that the maximum demonstrated crosswind component during takeoff or landing was 15 knots. The calculated crosswind component for the specified conditions was 29 knots. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Other weather encounter during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Maximum crosswind component › Capability exceeded
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Capability exceeded
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wall/barricade › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 234 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 139 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 8, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,726 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 8, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2G (piston); 1,712 hours total
- Operator: Bell Ornithopters Flying Club INC
The flight
- Departed from: LMO Longmont CO at 4:00 am
- Destination: BJC Broomfield CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30L, 7,002 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 240° at 27 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
- Observation at 4:34 am from KBJC, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on July 5, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Crosswind Component | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.