NTSB DEN89LA166 — 1989-07-07 · GLENWOOD SPGS, Colorado, United States

Current FAA registration · N2720E

Make / Model: CESSNA 172N
Year of manufacture: 1978 · 11 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19780816
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A2B047

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N2720E Cessna 172 None

Probable cause & findings

INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS BY THE DUAL STUDENT, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND A FORCED LANDING. THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND, CFI, FAILED TO ADEQUATELY SUPERVISE THE OPERATION.

Factual narrative

THE COMMERCIAL PLT (CFI) WAS INSTRUCTING A FOREIGN CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PLT WITH ONE PASSENGER ON BOARD. THE CFI SAID THE DUAL STUDENT WAS MAKING A SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF ON RWY 32, A 3,305 X 50 FT ASPHALT RWY, WITH WINDS REPORTED AS 030 DEG AT 10 KTS, GUSTING TO 13 KNOTS. THE CFI SAID THAT AT MID-FIELD, THE ACFT HAD GAINED 50 FT AGL ALTITUDE. HE SAID THE ACFT WAS STRUCK BY A WINDSHEAR AND IT BEGAN TO LOSE ALTITUDE. THE CFI TOOK THE CONTROLS, LOWERED THE NOSE, AND ELECTED TO LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD. THE CFI SAID HE 'TURNED OFF THE ENGINE' AND 'ADDED FLAPS.' THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN WITH 200 FEET OF RWY REMAINING. THE ACFT OVERRAN THE RWY, WENT THROUGH A FENCE, AND CAME TO REST 300 FT OFF THE END OF RWY. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1989_DEN89LA166.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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