Boeing A75N1 accident near Grand Junction, Colorado, May 19, 1985
On May 19, 1985 at about 8:21 pm local time, a Boeing A75N1, registered N49926, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grand Junction, Colorado (Grand Junction 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
- May 19, 1985 · about 8:21 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Junction, Colorado · Grand Junction
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing A75N1 · all A75N1s on the register
- Registration
- N49926 · registry record · serial 75-808
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT AS HE ARRIVED AT THE DESTINATION (CANYONLANDS, UT), THERE WAS A STORM OVER THE ARPT, SO HE DIVERTEDED TOWARD DELTA, CO. ABOUT 10 MI FROM DELTA, HE ENCOUNTERED ANOTHER STORM, SO HE TURNED TOWARD GRAND JUNCTION, CO. BEFORE REACHING THE ARPT, THE ENG LOST POWER DUE TO LACK OF FUEL. THE PLT STATED THAT THERE WAS 'JUST UNDER A QUARTER OF A TANK OF GAS' REMAINING. HOWEVER, THE ACFT HAD BEEN AIRBORNE AN ESTIMATED 3 HRS & 15 MIN & THE ENG CONSUMED ABOUT 14 GAL/HR. THE PLT STATED THAT THE ACFT HAD NOT BEEN FLOWN FOR APRX 4 YRS & HAD RUST IN THE FUEL LINES & FILTER. HE BELIEVED THAT THE RUST CAUSED FUEL STARVATION & THAT FLUSHING THE FUEL SYS WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE POWER LOSS. DURING A FORCED LANDING, THE ACFT HIT A DIKE AS THE PLT TRIED TO BOUNCE OVER IT. THE GEAR COLLAPSED & A FENCE & CORN FIELD WERE DAMAGED. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ACFT HAD 46 GAL OF FUEL ON BOARD WHEN HE TOOK OFF.
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: 679 hours in all; 278 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,022 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 10, 1977
- Maximum gross weight: 2,717 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming R-680-17 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Richfield UT
- Destination: Canyonlands UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.