Glenwood Springs Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Glenwood Spgs, Colorado 81602
Friday, March 28, 1997 10:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot said he had made six takeoffs and landings with his instructor, and this was his first solo flight at Glenwood Springs, Colorado, Airport (he had previously soloed at Eagle and Rifle, Colorado). The pilot said the wind was calm and his landing approach was stable. After the airplane touched down, it began to drift to the right of the runway. The pilot said he applied left rudder but over corrected. The airplane veered to the left, and the pilot elected to abort the landing and added power. The airplane departed the left side of the runway, struck a tree, and nosed over.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain airplane directional control, and his use of excessive rudder control.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/28/1997
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1000
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City GLENWOOD SPGS
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 81602
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GLENWOOD SPRINGS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GWS
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 5916
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1014 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 55
Weather Observation Facility ID EGE
Elevation of weather observation facility 6535
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 26
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 6666
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 61
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 28 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1048
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:10PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7273G
NTSB Number FTW97LA145
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172K
Aircraft Series Identifier 172K
Aircraft Serial Number 17258973
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Mar 1 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 50
Airframe Hours 3783
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GLENWOOD AVIATION, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 291
Aircraft Owner City GLNWD SPRNGS
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 81602
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 32
Runway Length 3305
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --