Piper PA-32-300 accident near Castle Rock, Colorado, April 1, 1983
On April 1, 1983 at about 3:00 am local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N4005W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Castle Rock, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 1, 1983 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Castle Rock, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N4005W · no longer on the register · serial 32-40005
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE TWO ENROUTE STOPS AT PLACES OTHER THAN PLANNED BECAUSE HE WAS CONFUSED AND DISORIENTED. WHEN HE COULD NOTGET A SECTIONAL CHART HE WANTED HE TOOKOFF WITHOUT IT AFTER ONE OF THESE LANDINGS. AFTER THE SECOND LANDING HE TOOK OFF IGNORING A RED LIGHT FROM THE TOWER. HE LISTENED TO A WEATHER REPORT ON THE ACFT RADIO AND EVEN THOUGH THE WEATHER WAS DETERIORATING HE CONTINUED ON TRYING TO MAINTAIN VFR. UNAWARE OF THE HIGH TERRAIN BETWEEN COLORADO SPRINGS AND DENVER AND SEEING LIGHTS TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT THE PILOT THOUGHT HE WAS IN A VALLEY AND FLEW INTO A RIDGE SUDDENLY WITH NO WARNING. LOCAL RESIDENTS SAID THERE WAS STRONG WINDS, BLOWING SNOW, AND LOW VISIBILITY AT THE TIME AND PLACE OF THE 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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,170 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 2,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,478 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 23, 1983; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AAF Colorado Sprgs CO
- Destination: APA Englewood CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 270° at 30 knots, gusting 50
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.