You don't expect to hear a "loud bang" while enjoying a quiet Saturday morning in Niwot. But on September 17, 2022, that’s exactly what happened.
Witnesses looked up and saw the unthinkable: two planes, mid-air, tangled together before falling into separate fields. It’s the kind of thing that feels like a movie script until you see the smoke. Honestly, it’s one of those tragedies that sticks with the Boulder community, not just because of the loss of life, but because of how preventable it feels in hindsight.
When we talk about a plane crash in Boulder Colorado, people usually think of the 2022 mid-air collision near Niwot Road, though there was also a more recent, heartbreaking incident in May 2025 near the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport. Both serve as grim reminders of the complexities of flying in the Front Range.
The 2022 Mid-Air Collision: A Breakdown
The crash that most people are searching for involved a Cessna 172 and a Sonex Xenos.
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The Cessna was a training flight from the Mc-Air Flight School, carrying a flight instructor and a student pilot. They had departed from Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (RMMA) in Broomfield. The other plane, a Sonex Xenos—which is basically a light, homebuilt motor glider—had taken off from Platte Valley Airpark in Hudson.
They met at 7,000 feet.
The Cessna was heading north when it turned east, right into the path of the Sonex. There was no "black box" to tell the full story because these small planes aren't required to have them. However, the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) was able to piece things together using radar data and witness accounts.
The Victims
Three lives were lost that morning. The Boulder County Coroner's Office later identified them:
- Daniel Wilmoth, 22
- Samuel Fisher, 23
- Henry Butler, 69
It’s heavy stuff. Two young guys just starting their aviation careers and a veteran pilot in his own aircraft.
Why Didn't They See Each Other?
The biggest question everyone asks is: How? The weather was clear. Visibility was great.
The reality is that "see and avoid" is the gold standard for pilots in this type of airspace, but it has huge limitations. If a plane is in your blind spot—under the high wing of a Cessna or tucked behind a cockpit pillar—it might as well not exist until it's too late.
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Interestingly, neither plane was equipped with a collision-avoidance system. Now, before you get outraged, you should know they weren't legally required to have them. It's one of those gaps in general aviation safety that experts are constantly debating.
Fast Forward: The May 2025 Incident
Just when the community starts to heal, it happens again. On May 17, 2025, a Beechcraft 95-B55 Baron went down shortly after taking off from RMMA.
This one was different.
The pilot actually radioed the tower. He said a door had "popped open." That sounds minor, right? Like a car door not being latched properly. But at 100+ mph while climbing, a door popping open is loud, terrifying, and can seriously mess with the plane's aerodynamics or—more likely—the pilot's focus.
The plane crashed into a field near Brainard Drive and Midway Boulevard. There were no survivors. The victims were later identified as Eugene Knutson, 80, and James Gelaude, 74.
The Local Impact and Safety Concerns
Living near an airport like RMMA or Vance Brand in Longmont is a bit of a double-edged sword. People love the convenience and the economy it brings, but these accidents fuel a lot of anxiety.
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There’s been a lot of talk lately—mostly from the "Save Our Skies" groups—about the safety of flight paths over populated areas. It’s not just about the crashes; it’s about lead in the fuel and the constant noise. But when a plane crash in Boulder Colorado makes the headlines, those safety concerns move from the background to the front page real fast.
What Pilots (and Residents) Should Know
If you're a student pilot or just someone who flies recreationally in Colorado, the Front Range is tricky. Between the mountain waves, the high density altitude, and the sheer volume of traffic from flight schools, it’s a high-workload environment.
Safety takeaways:
- ADS-B Out is a lifesaver. Even if it’s not required in every single bit of airspace, having technology that "talks" to other planes is the best way to avoid a Niwot-style tragedy.
- Fly the airplane first. In the 2025 crash, experts pointed out that an open door doesn't usually crash a plane—distraction does. The old aviation adage "Aviate, Navigate, Communicate" exists for a reason.
- Situational Awareness. If you're a resident, it helps to know that while these accidents are tragic, they are statistically rare compared to the thousands of successful takeoffs and landings that happen every week.
The investigation into the 2025 crash is still technically ongoing, as the NTSB usually takes 12 to 24 months to release a final report with a "probable cause." We might not have all the answers yet, but the pattern is clear: in aviation, there is no room for complacency.
Practical Next Steps
If you are looking for more specific data or want to stay updated on the legal and safety shifts following these incidents:
- Check the NTSB Query Tool (CAROL) using the tail numbers N4321Z (2025 crash) or N172FL (the 2022 Cessna) for the full factual reports.
- Follow the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office press releases for immediate updates on local recovery or road closures if a new incident occurs.
- If you're a local resident concerned about flight paths, attend the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport Community Advisory Board meetings to voice your concerns directly to airport management.
Staying informed isn't just about morbid curiosity; it's about understanding the risks in our own backyard and pushing for the tech and training that keeps everyone—on the ground and in the air—a little bit safer.