Cessna 170B N1996C

Summary

On 15 June 2025 at about 16:18 local time, a Cessna 170B registered N1996C was involved in an accident near Fort Morgan, Colorado, United States. One person was 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

15 June 2025 at 16:18

Classification

Accident

Location

Fort Morgan, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Fort Morgan Municipal Airport (FMM)

Coordinates

40.3354, -103.8042

Aircraft

Cessna 170B

Registration

N1996C

Category

Airplane

Year built

1953

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Greeley → Fort Morgan

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN25LA210

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the tailwheel-equipped airplane during a gusty crosswind landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was conducting a full stall (3-point) landing in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. The pilot reported that after touchdown a wind gust from the right caused the airplane to roll left and ground loop. The fuselage and left wing were substantially damaged during the ground loop when the left landing gear collapsed. Based on the reported wind direction and speed at the airport, there was likely a right crosswind component of about 6 to 9 knots at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.