Cessna 172S N51387

Summary

On 27 January 2025 at about 16:30 local time, a Cessna 172S registered N51387, operated by 10FSS - Usafa Aero Club, was involved in an accident near Air Force Academy, Colorado, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 January 2025 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Air Force Academy, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

USAF Academy Davis Airfield (AFF)

Coordinates

38.9734, -104.8200

Aircraft

Cessna 172S

Registration

N51387

Category

Airplane

Year built

2001

Engines

1

Operator

10FSS - Usafa Aero Club

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN25LA088

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during final approach after encountering an unexpected windshear.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, about 150 ft above ground level, the airplane encountered an unexpected windshear which resulted in a “significant sink rate” and loss of about 10 knots of airspeed. The pilot attempted to arrest the descent by adding engine power but was unsuccessful. The airplane landed hard, bounced, and then settled on the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.