Cessna 150 accident near Parker, Colorado, April 18, 1982
On April 18, 1982 at about 7:57 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N6859A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Parker, Colorado (Arapahoe County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- April 18, 1982 · about 7:57 pm local time
- Place
- Parker, Colorado · Arapahoe County
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N6859A · registry record · serial 1572356
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT ABOUT 150 FT AGL & BEYOND THE RWY DEPARTURE END THE ENG LOST POWER. THE ACFT IMPACTED AN EMBANKMENT DURING THE ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO THE ARPT. ENG EXAM REVEALED THAT THE #1 CYLINDER PISTON COMPRESSION RING WAS BROKEN CORRESONDING TO GROOVES ON THE CYLINDER. THE CONROD BEARING WAS DESTROYED. THE CRANKSHAFT NEXT TO THE BEARING BORE EVIDENCE OF BURNISHING & SOME BLUING OR HEAT DAMAGE. A FLT IN THIS ACFT WAS TERMINATE AFTER 1 HR ON 3/27 DUE TO LOW OIL PRESSURE & SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT. A LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL WAS FOUND AROUND THE ENG & FUSELAGE. 5 QTS OF OIL WERE ADDED. THE ACFT HAD FLOWN 0.6 HR PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLT. THIS FLT WAS TERMINATED DUE TO UNUSUAL ENG NOISES & A DECREASE IN RPM. THE PLT WROTE A NOTE DESCRIBING THE ENG PROBLEM & PLACED THE NOTE ON THE LEFT SEAT OF THE COCKPIT. NEITHER PLT IN THIS ACCIDENT RECALLED SEEING ANY NOTE IN THE ACFT DURING PREFLIGHT.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 372 hours in all; 125 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 285 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,731 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 85 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APA Parker CO at 12:55 pm
- Destination: APA Parker CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 8,502 ft by 101 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 147°F (64°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.