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).
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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
- July 22, 1982 · about 3:43 pm local time
- Place
- Broomfield, Colorado · Jeferson County 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 |
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 DEN82DA141.