Cessna 152 accident near Longmont, Colorado, March 4, 2002
On March 4, 2002 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N24933, was substantially damaged in an accident near Longmont, Colorado (Longmont, Vance Brand airport). 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's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft during landing. Factors were a contaminated runway, which was icy and covered with snow, and a snow bank.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 4, 2002 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Longmont, Colorado · Longmont, Vance Brand · 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
- N24933 · registry record · serial 15280457
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings. During the rollout, the aircraft contacted snow on the runway, and drifted left of the runway centerline, despite the pilot's corrective control inputs. The aircraft departed the north side of the runway, contacted a snow bank, and nosed over. There was a NOTAM-D in effect which reported 1/2 inch of packed snow over ice, braking action poor, for the time of the accident.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 35 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2V2 Longmont CO at 4:15 pm
- Destination: Longmont CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 4,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 80 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 4:45 pm from KBJC, 16 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.