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Accidents · NTSB WPR25FA268 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Cessna 172M and Extra Flugzeugproduktions-Und EA 300/LC mid-air collision near Fort Morgan, Colorado, August 31, 2025

On August 31, 2025 at about 4:40 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172M (N61657) and Extra Flugzeugproduktions-Und EA 300/LC (N330AN), were involved in a mid-air collision near Fort Morgan, Colorado (Fort Morgan Muni airport). 1 person was killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
August 31, 2025 · about 4:40 pm local time · cases in 2025
Place
Fort Morgan, Colorado · Fort Morgan Muni · cases near this airport · map
Type
Accident · mid-air collision
Injuries
1 person was killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft 1
Cessna 172M, built 1975 · all 172Ms on the register
Registration
N61657 · registry record · serial 17264706
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
Aircraft 2
Extra Flugzeugproduktions-Und EA 300/LC, built 2015 · all EA 300/LCs on the register
Registration
N330AN · no longer on the register · serial LC051
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172M preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record

On August 31, 2025, about 1040 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N61657, and an Extra Flugzeugproduktions-UND EA 300/LC, N330AN, were both destroyed when they collided midair near Fort Morgan, Colorado. The pilot and safety pilot of the Cessna received minor injuries. The pilot of the Extra 300 was seriously injured, and the safety pilot of the Extra 300 was fatally injured. Both airplanes were operated as Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flights. According to the pilot of the Cessna, he was conducting instrument flight training with the assistance of a safety pilot. They were performing the RNAV GPS approach to runway 14 at Fort Morgan Municipal Airport (FMM) Fort Morgan, Colorado, while in visual flight rules (VFR) conditions. The pilot had made multiple radio calls on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) to notify the FMM traffic of his arrival and was aware of aerobatic flights occurring at the airport. He recalled hearing two airplanes in the traffic pattern and understood that one may have landed. The pilot then continued the instrument approach to the decision altitude of 4,845 ft mean sea level, or about 250 ft above ground level (agl), then removed his view limiting device. He identified the runway and continued the approach visually. The pilot estimated that they were over the threshold when he heard a bang and felt a forward and downward acceleration. After the impact the two pilots immediately exited the airplane. According to the pilot of the Extra 300, he was competing in an aerobatic competition over the airport and completed his sequence. He exited the box and maneuvered to enter the traffic pattern at the traffic pattern altitude. He made multiple radio calls stating his intention to land on runway 14. He heard a previous competitor on the CTAF who would be landing before him, but no one else. While on the downwind leg, he entered a continuous left descending turn to the runway. He was on final approach and about ready to begin the flare when the Cessna appeared underneath the nose of the Extra 300. The impact happened quickly afterwards and there was no time for maneuvering or go around. According to a competition judge, located about 1 mile south of the approach end of runway 14, he was observing the Extra 300 and saw both airplanes nearing the runway. He noticed that the Cessna was in front and below the Extra 300 and estimated that the Cessna was at a low altitude of about 10-15 ft agl, while the Extra 300 was about 15-20 ft agl. He saw the two airplanes collide and fall onto the runway. He immediately notified the chief judge who then called 911. Both airplanes came to rest inverted, alongside each other, and off the right side of runway 14. A line of debris, from both airplanes, extended from the wreckage about 500 ft northwest. The left wing of the Cessna separated from the airplane at the root and was located about 100 ft north of the main wreckage. Both the left horizontal stabilizer and left elevator separated from the empennage. The left elevator exhibited multiple spanwise cuts, consistent with impacts from a sharp object. The wood and composite material propeller of the Extra 300 fractured into multiple pieces and was scattered throughout the debris field. The pilots of the Cessna exited their airplane and saw the pilot of the Extra 300 was out of his airplane and calling for assistance. According to the pilot of the Extra 300, he attempted to extricate the safety pilot until help arrived. Heat from a postaccident fire precluded rescue the effort. The airplanes were recovered to a secure facility for further examinations.

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 NTSB's narrative for the Extra Flugzeugproduktions-Und EA 300/LC preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record

On August 31, 2025, about 1040 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N61657, and an Extra Flugzeugproduktions-UND EA 300/LC, N330AN, were both destroyed when they collided midair near Fort Morgan, Colorado. The pilot and safety pilot of the Cessna received minor injuries. The pilot of the Extra 300 was seriously injured, and the safety pilot of the Extra 300 was fatally injured. Both airplanes were operated as Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flights. According to the pilot of the Cessna, he was conducting instrument flight training with the assistance of a safety pilot. They were performing the RNAV GPS approach to runway 14 at Fort Morgan Municipal Airport (FMM) Fort Morgan, Colorado, while in visual flight rules (VFR) conditions. The pilot had made multiple radio calls on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) to notify the FMM traffic of his arrival and was aware of aerobatic flights occurring at the airport. He recalled hearing two airplanes in the traffic pattern and understood that one may have landed. The pilot then continued the instrument approach to the decision altitude of 4,845 ft mean sea level, or about 250 ft above ground level (agl), then removed his view limiting device. He identified the runway and continued the approach visually. The pilot estimated that they were over the threshold when he heard a bang and felt a forward and downward acceleration. After the impact the two pilots immediately exited the airplane. According to the pilot of the Extra 300, he was competing in an aerobatic competition over the airport and completed his sequence. He exited the box and maneuvered to enter the traffic pattern at the traffic pattern altitude. He made multiple radio calls stating his intention to land on runway 14. He heard a previous competitor on the CTAF who would be landing before him, but no one else. While on the downwind leg, he entered a continuous left descending turn to the runway. He was on final approach and about ready to begin the flare when the Cessna appeared underneath the nose of the Extra 300. The impact happened quickly afterwards and there was no time for maneuvering or go around. According to a competition judge, located about 1 mile south of the approach end of runway 14, he was observing the Extra 300 and saw both airplanes nearing the runway. He noticed that the Cessna was in front and below the Extra 300 and estimated that the Cessna was at a low altitude of about 10-15 ft agl, while the Extra 300 was about 15-20 ft agl. He saw the two airplanes collide and fall onto the runway. He immediately notified the chief judge who then called 911. Both airplanes came to rest inverted, alongside each other, and off the right side of runway 14. A line of debris, from both airplanes, extended from the wreckage about 500 ft northwest. The left wing of the Cessna separated from the airplane at the root and was located about 100 ft north of the main wreckage. Both the left horizontal stabilizer and left elevator separated from the empennage. The left elevator exhibited multiple spanwise cuts, consistent with impacts from a sharp object. The wood and composite material propeller of the Extra 300 fractured into multiple pieces and was scattered throughout the debris field. The pilots of the Cessna exited their airplane and saw the pilot of the Extra 300 was out of his airplane and calling for assistance. According to the pilot of the Extra 300, he attempted to extricate the safety pilot until help arrived. Heat from a postaccident fire precluded rescue the effort. The airplanes were recovered to a secure facility for further examinations.

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 for the Cessna 172M from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English

What happened, in order

  1. Midair collision during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event

The aircraft

  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Fire on the ground
  • Operator: Bell Ornithopters Flying Club INC

The flight

  • Departed from: BJC Denver CO at 3:55 am
  • Flight plan: IFR
  • Runway 14, 5,731 ft by 74 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.31 inHg
  • Observation at 10:35 am from KFMM, 1 miles away

Weather report (METAR): KFMM 311635Z AUTO VRB05KT 10SM CLR 21/12 A3031 RMK AO2

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew2

The factual record for the Extra Flugzeugproduktions-Und EA 300/LC from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English

What happened, in order

  1. Midair collision during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event

The aircraft

  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Fire on the ground

The flight

  • Flight plan: none

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew11

Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report

The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

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The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR25FA268.json.

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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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.