Front Range Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Watkins, Colorado 80137
Monday, November 24, 1997 16:28 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

After an uneventful local flight of about one hour, the pilot returned to the airport for landing. While in the landing pattern, the pilot noticed another airplane in close proximity to his, so he elected to maneuver his airplane for spacing. While maneuvering, the engine lost power. Attempts to restart the engine were to no avail, so the pilot made a forced landing on an access road near the runway. During the landing roll, the right wing struck an approach light T-bar. While the airplane sat on the ground, the pilot tried to start the engine. He was not successful. About 15 minutes later, after starting to walk for help, he returned to the airplane and tried starting the engine again. The engine backfired, then started. He taxied the airplane to the parking area. Postaccident examination disclosed damaged to the right wing, left wing strut, left horizontal stabilizer, and fuselage. The engine was later started by the operator and full power was attained.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

loss of engine power for undertermined reason(s).

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/24/1997
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1628
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City WATKINS
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80137
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport FRONT RANGE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FTG
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 60
Airport Elevation 5512
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1653 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID FTG
Elevation of weather observation facility 5512
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
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) 5
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 100
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 5423
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) 976
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 24 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1628
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:40PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N738LC
NTSB Number FTW98LA061
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172N
Aircraft Series Identifier 172N
Aircraft Serial Number 17270053
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 11 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 77
Airframe Hours 2306
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name KEVIN H. BEHRENS
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 2
Aircraft Owner City STRASBURG
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 80136
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name FLIGHT TRAINING CENTER
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 5100 QUALL RUN RD.
Operator City WATKINS
Operator State CO
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 80137
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code FTG
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1530
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 Emergency 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 26
Runway Length 8000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --