- Date
- August 30, 1985, 23:45 local (Aug 31, 1985, 05:45 UTC)
- Place
- Englewood, CO
- Injuries
- 4 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N5418FPiper PA-28-181
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850830042329A
- Case key
- 16755
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated after the accident that he had approximately 1/2 full tanks of fuel when he departed the airport on a local night flight. He stated that he flew burning fuel from the left fuel tank. The pilot was returning to the airport after a flight of approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes, when he began running rough. He stated that he switched the fuel selector to the right fuel tank but then switched it back to the left tank moments later when there was no change in theeng performance. The eng quit and the pilot executed an emergency landing in an open field.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5418F
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-181
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 287790116
- Airframe hours
- 1,602
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-AYM, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- James & Cynthia Cole
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 28, 1985 · 74 hours before
- Departed
- 48V · Erie, CO
- Airport
- APA · Centennial, runway 16R, 5,145 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 21
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 80 total · 6 in this make and model · 34 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 170° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- APA
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.