Cessna 172S accident near Longmont, CO

On September 17, 2022, a Cessna 172S (airplane) was involved in an accident near Longmont, CO. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.

Date

September 17, 2022

Place

Longmont, CO

Aircraft

Cessna 172S · Airplane

Injuries

3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Destroyed

Position

40.105°N, 105.123°W

NTSB ID

20220918105957

Official records · CEN22FA424

• Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn September 17, 2022, about 0853 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172S, N2117Y, and a Sonex Aircraft Xenos, N255BF, were destroyed when they were involved in a mid-air collision near Longmont, Colorado. The flight instructor and student pilot aboard the Cessna and the pilot aboard the Sonex sustained fatal injuries. The Cessna was operated as Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The Sonex was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Per the flight school, the flight instructor and student pilot took off from the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (BJC), Broomfield, Colorado, and proceeded north to a practice area near Longmont to perform practice maneuvers. A review of air traffic control (ATC) flight track data showed that the Cessna departed BJC about 0843 and proceeded north toward Longmont. The Sonex departed Platte Valley Airpark (18V), Hudson, Colorado, about 0838 and proceeded westbound toward the Longmont area. Both airplanes climbed to about 7,000-7,500 ft msl and were operating under VFR. On reaching the practice area, the Cessna made a left 360° clearing turn, which according to the flight school was standard procedure. On completing the turn, the Cessna made a right turn just east of Niwot, Colorado, and proceeded eastbound. The Sonex approached from the east and tracked west-northwest passing about 4 miles north of Erie, Colorado, and continued toward a point about 1 mile east of Niwot. The flight track data of the two airplanes merged at 08:53:01 at an altitude of 6,939 ft msl

Probable cause

The pilots’ inability to see and avoid each other, resulting in a midair collision.

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Browse: Colorado · Cessna aircraft

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.