Rangely Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rangely, Colorado 81648
Friday, March 30, 2001 18:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private pilot, a student at and a member of the college's flight team, took off approximately 1745 to practice crosswind takeoffs and landings in preparation for the upcoming National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) competition. According to the chief pilot, the private pilot made a normal crosswind landing on runway 24. There was an estimated 10 to 15 knot direct right crosswind. When the airplane touched down, the pilot relaxed aileron input. The airplane began "wheel barrowing," the pilot lost directional control, and the airplane exited the left side of the runway, striking a taxiway sign.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's improper use of aileron and his failure to maintain directional control during landing. A contributing factor was the direct gusty crosswind.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/30/2001
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1800
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Rangely
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 81648
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport Rangely
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 4V0
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 5544
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 7000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.88
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 10241
NTSB Notification Source COLORADO NORTHWESTERN COMM COL
NTSB Notification Date Apr 3 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1530
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jul 30 2001 11:11AM
User who most recently changed record MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Salt Lake City, Utah

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N54663
NTSB Number DEN01LA081
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172P
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17275029
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 Feb 26 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 21
Airframe Hours 5088
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Colorado Northwestern Community College
Aircraft Owner Street Address 500 Kennedy Dr.
Aircraft Owner City Rangely
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 81648
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 4V0
Departure City Rangely
Departure State CO
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1745
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Rangely
Destination State CO
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 1 2001 12:47PM
User who most recently changed record MCBM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 24
Runway Length 6400
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --