Piper PA-18-150 accident near Aurora, Colorado, July 3, 1982
On July 3, 1982 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N4007Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Aurora, Colorado (Columbine airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 3, 1982 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Aurora, Colorado · Columbine · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N4007Z · registry record · serial 187958
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND (PIC) WAS REFAMILIARIZING HIMSELF IN THE PIPER PA-18. HE WAS OCCUPYING THE FRONT SEAT WHILE THE OWNER WAS ACTING AS SECOND-IN-COMMAND IN THE BACKSEAT. ON THE THIRD LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED SOFT TERRAIN TOWARDS THE END OF THE ROLL-OUT. THE PIC STATED THAT APPLICATION OF BRAKES COMPOUNDED THE PROBLEM WITH THE WHEELS DIGGING IN, RESULTING IN A NOSE OVER. IN A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION, THE PIC ADMITTED THAT THE APPROACH WAS HIGH AND FAST AND THAT HE OVERSHOT THE PLANNED TOUCHDOWN POINT. THE OWNER STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH OVERSIZE TIRES AND CLEVELAND BRAKES.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,227 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 177 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 5,615 as pilot in command; 3,079 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,050 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Aurora CO at 7:30 am
- Destination: Albuquerque NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 2,550 ft by 80 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 80 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 151°F (66°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 pm from DEN, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.