Piper PA-28-181 accident near Englewood, Colorado, August 31, 1985
On August 31, 1985 at about 5:45 am local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N5418F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Englewood, Colorado (Centennial airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. 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
- August 31, 1985 · about 5:45 am local time
- Place
- Englewood, Colorado · Centennial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N5418F · no longer on the register · serial 287790116
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED AFTER THE ACCIDENT THAT HE HAD APPROXIMATELY 1/2 FULL TANKS OF FUEL WHEN HE DEPARTED THE AIRPORT ON A LOCAL NIGHT FLIGHT. HE STATED THAT HE FLEW BURNING FUEL FROM THE LEFT FUEL TANK. THE PILOT WAS RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT AFTER A FLIGHT OF APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR AND 15 MINUTES, WHEN HE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH. HE STATED THAT HE SWITCHED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE RIGHT FUEL TANK BUT THEN SWITCHED IT BACK TO THE LEFT TANK MOMENTS LATER WHEN THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN THEENG PERFORMANCE. THE ENG QUIT AND THE PILOT EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD.
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: 80 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 34 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,602 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 28, 1985; 74 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-AYM (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 48V Erie CO at 5:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16R, 5,145 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 170° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:45 am from APA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.