Fort Collins Loveland Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Loveland, Colorado 80538
Wednesday, January 2, 2008 15:30 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the student pilot she flared too early, ballooned, and impacted the runway. She stated that when she impacted the runway, she was not aligned with the centerline and the airplane departed the runway to the left. The airplane slid into the snow, resulting in substantial damage. The student reported no anomalies with the airplane or any of its systems.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the student pilot's premature flare resulting in the loss of aircraft control.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/2/2008
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Loveland
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80538
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 402706N
Event Location Longitude 1050004W
Event Location Airport Fort Collins Loveland
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FNL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 5016
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1535 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID KFNL
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.26
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) 22980
NTSB Notification Source FAA-Northwest Mountain Region
NTSB Notification Date Jan 2 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jan 30 2008 4:08PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Denver FAA Flight Standards District Office

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N24965
NTSB Number DEN08CA047
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 152
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 15280476
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 5835.3
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name On File
Aircraft Owner Street Address On File
Aircraft Owner City Loveland
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 80538
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Colorado Contrails
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Loveland
Operator State CO
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 80538
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code KFNL
Departure City Loveland
Departure State CO
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1515
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code KFNL
Destination City Loveland
Destination State CO
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - flare/touchdown
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 15 2008 4:30PM
User who most recently changed record BOWL
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 15
Runway Length 8500
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --