American AA5B accident near Broomfield, Colorado, July 22, 1982
On July 22, 1982 at about 3:43 pm local time, a American AA5B, registered N28218, was substantially damaged in an accident near Broomfield, Colorado (Jeferson County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 1982 · about 3:43 pm local time · cases in 1982
- Place
- Broomfield, Colorado · Jeferson County Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American AA5B · all AA5Bs on the register
- Registration
- N28218 · registry record · serial AA5B0942
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING LOCAL AREA PLEASURE SIGHTSEEING FLIGHTS WHEN THE AIRCRAFT FAILED TO CLIMB DURING A NORMAL DEPARTURE. SHE LANDED THE AIRCRAFT IN A PLOWED FIELD.INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED AT A DENSITY ALTITUDE APPROXIMATELY 8,750 FEET. ALSO THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED AND FOUND NOT CAPABLE OF PRODUCING FULL TAKEOFF RATED POWER.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 130 hours in all; 49 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 62 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 798 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 92 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Rainbow Aviation INC.
The flight
- Departed from: BJC Broomfield CO at 9:40 am
- Destination: BJC Broomfield CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 7,498 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 176°F (80°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 1 |
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N28218 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- American AA-5 127 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- American 307 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K 44 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Rocky Mountain Metro Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Colorado 2,860 since 1982 · 384 in the last ten years
- Colorado 7,469 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/DEN82DA141.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.