Piper PA-28-235 accident near Englewood, Colorado, August 18, 1982
On August 18, 1982 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-235, registered N16541, was substantially damaged in an accident near Englewood, Colorado (Arapande County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- August 18, 1982 · about 11:00 pm local time · cases in 1982
- Place
- Englewood, Colorado · Arapande County · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N16541 · registry record · serial 28-7310104
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENGINE QUIT ON DOWNWIND AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND DOWNWIND ON THE RUNWAY BUT CRASHED OFF THE AIRPORT. THE FUELSELECTOR WAS FOUND ON AN AUXILIARY TANK. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT AND OTHER OPERATORS OF THE AIRCRAFT, ONLY ABOUT THREE GALLONS OF FUEL ARE PUT INTO THE AUXILIARY TANKS FOR LOCAL FLIGHTS. THE PILOT HAD MADE ONE TOUCH AND GO LANDING PRIOR TOTHE ACCIDENT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 577 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 370 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,386 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Avco Lycoming O-540-B4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Flying Chargers INC.
The flight
- Departed from: APA Englewood CO at 4:47 pm
- Destination: APA Englewood CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 4,300 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 183°F (84°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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
- N16541 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-28 Cherokee, Warrior, Archer and Arrow 18,623 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,842 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Avco Lycoming O-540-B4B5 40 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Centennial Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Colorado 2,860 since 1982 · 383 in the last ten years
- Colorado 7,485 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/DEN82DA167.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.