Amateur-built PDQ2VW accident near Aurora, Colorado, June 30, 1984
On June 30, 1984 at about 4:00 pm local time, a amateur-built PDQ2VW, registered N44222, was substantially damaged in an accident near Aurora, Colorado (Aurora airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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 30, 1984 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Aurora, Colorado · Aurora · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PDQ2VW
- Registration
- N44222 · no longer on the register · serial 113101102B
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HOMEBUILT ACFT WAS BEING TESTED FOR FLT EVEN THOUGH PREVIOUS TESTS HAD PROVEN THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT SUPPORT FLT.THE PLT SAID THE CARBURETOR HAD BEEN IMPROVED PRIOR TO THIS TEST. THE ACFT TOOKOFF AND CLIMBED TO ABOUT 15 FT AGL AND STAYED AT THAT ALT FOR THE LENGTH OF THE RWY. WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER THE PLT SAID A LANDING WAS MADE OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY. AFTER ABOUT 25 FT OF ROLL THE ACFT NOSED OVER. THE PLT SAID THAT THE LOSS OF POWER WAS DUE TO IMPROPER CARBURETOR NEEDLE VALVE SETTING. THE DENSITY ALT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS ABOUT 8400 FT. THE ARPT IS 5680 FT MSL. THIS FLT WAS TO HAVE BEEN THE BASIS FOR APPLICATION FOR AN AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE FOR THIS ACFT.
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: 140 hours in all; 1 in the last 90 days; 68 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, October 17, 1980
- Maximum gross weight: 370 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 1600CC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 4,677 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 10:00 am
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N44222 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.