Piper PA-28-235 accident near Castle Rock, Colorado, November 11, 2025
On November 11, 2025 at about 1:15 am local time, a 1966 Piper PA-28-235, registered N9143W, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Castle Rock, Colorado (N/A airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 11, 2025 · about 1:15 am local time
- Place
- Castle Rock, Colorado · N/A · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235, built 1966 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N9143W · registry record · serial 28-10764
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On November 10, 2025, about 1815 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-235 airplane, N9143W, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Castle Rock, Colorado. The pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. A second passenger reported minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that, while in cruise flight, he observed a slight decrease in engine speed. He immediately applied carburetor heat. However, about two minutes later, the engine lost all power. The pilot’s efforts to restore engine power were unsuccessful. The pilot executed a forced landing to road. The left wing struck a car which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. No one in the car was injured. An engine examination is planned following recovery of the airplane.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,673.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 5, 2025; 28.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: COS Colorado Springs CO
- Destination: COS Colorado Springs CO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 170° at 8 knots, gusting 1
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.46 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from KAPA, 11 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KAPA 100153Z AUTO 17008KT 10SM CLR 03/M11 A3046
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN26LA042.