Quicksilver MXII accident near Broomfield, Colorado, August 20, 1982
On August 20, 1982 at about 9:10 pm local time, a Quicksilver MXII, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N3149Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Broomfield, Colorado (Jefferson County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was 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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 1982 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Broomfield, Colorado · Jefferson County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Quicksilver MXII, amateur-built
- Registration
- N3149Z · no longer on the register · serial 4008
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
REPORTEDLY, THE PILOT MADE AN INTERSECTION TAKEOFF FROM ABOUT MIDFIELD ON RUNWAY 02. HE STATED THAT HE TOOK OFF AT ROTATION SPEED PLUS 2 KTS. THE PASSENGER REPORTED THAT THEY REACHED ABOUT 40 FT AGL, THEN LOST LIFT AND BEGUN TO SETTLE. AS THE TWO-PLACE ULTRALIGHT AIRCRAFT SETTLED, IT WAS HEADED TOWARD AN AIRPORT NOISE ABATEMENT SIGN. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE AIRCRAFT TO AVOID THE SIGN, BUT THE PLANE STRUCK IT HEAD-ON. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PLANE WAS 10 LBS OVER ITS MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT AND THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS 8056 FT.
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: 250 hours in all; 57 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days; 215 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 45 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 660 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cuyuna 430D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BJC Broomfield CO at 2:09 pm
- Destination: BJC Broomfield CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 3,601 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 171°F (77°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.