Piper PA-22-160 accident near Brighton, Colorado, June 18, 1983
On June 18, 1983 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-160, registered N2801Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brighton, Colorado (Brighton Van-Aire airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- June 18, 1983 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Brighton, Colorado · Brighton Van-Aire · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-160 · all PA-22-160s on the register
- Registration
- N2801Z · registry record · serial 22-6794
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER ENTERING THE LANDING PATTERN, THE PLT NOTED BINDING OF THE AILERON CONTROL SYSTEM. REPORTEDLY THE AILERON CONTROLS SEEMED TO LOCK, SO HE USED THE RUDDERS FOR DIRECTIONAL CONTROL & LANDED IN A PLOWED FIELD. DURING THE LANDING, THE ACFT NOSED OVER. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE PIPER AUTO CONTROL SYS (WING LEVELER) HAD BECOME ENGAGED. WITH THE WING LEVELER ENGAGED, AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF CONTROL FORCE WAS REQUIRED TO OVERCOME A GEAR SYS. THE PLT BELIEVED THAT THE WING LEVELER CONTROL, PN 751-519, VIBRATED INTO THE ENGAGED POSITION.
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: 2,000 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 2,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,143 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, March 16, 1983; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,840 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CO12 Brighton CO at 3:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 5 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.