Amateur-built QUICKSILVER MX 11 accident near Erie, Colorado, September 25, 1983
On September 25, 1983 at about 5:00 pm local time, a amateur-built QUICKSILVER MX 11 (ultralight), registered N4412L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Erie, Colorado. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 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
- September 25, 1983 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Erie, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built QUICKSILVER MX 11 QUICKSILVE
- Registration
- N4412L · no longer on the register · serial 1335
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT OF THE 2 PLACE, ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE STATED THAT HE WAS DEMONSTRATING A POWER OFF GLIDE WHEN A SEVERE SINK DEVELOPED. HE APPLIED FULL POWER; HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO ARREST THE DESCENT PRIOR TO GROUND IMPACT. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE WIND WAS VARIABLE AT 5 GUSTING 10 KTS.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 480 hours in all; 110 in this make and model; 145 in the last 90 days; 340 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 195 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 20, 1983; 12 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Feathaire Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: 48V Erie CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.