Piper J3C-65 accident near Parker, Colorado, October 27, 1983
On October 27, 1983 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Piper J3C-65, registered N29037, was substantially damaged in an accident near Parker, Colorado (Everitt airport). It was an instructional 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
- October 27, 1983 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Parker, Colorado · Everitt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C-65 · all J3C-65s on the register
- Registration
- N29037 · no longer on the register · serial 6007
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE TAKEOFF PORTION OF A TOUCH & GO, THE ENG WENT TO IDLE 15 FT AGL. THE PLT MADE A LEFT TURN & LANDED IN A FIELDCOLLAPSING THE LANDING GEAR. INVESTIGATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE CARBURETOR WAS HANGING IN PLACE BY THE THROTTLE & MIXTURE CONTROL CABLES. THE MIXTURE CONTROL LEVER ARM ON THE CARB WAS FOUND IN THE FULL LEAN POSITION. THE CARBURETOR MIXTURE CONTROL WAS SUPPOSE TO BE WIRED TO THE FULL RICH POSITIVE. HOWEVER, THE SAFETY WIRE WAS FOUND CONNECTED ONLY TO THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE MIXTURE CONTROL PLATE COVER IN PLACE. IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED IF THE MIXTURE CONTROL WAS MOVED TO THE FULL LEAN POSITION BEFORE OR DURING THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 18 hours in all; 18 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,000 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from APA, 8 miles away
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.
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.