Cessna 185C accident near Broomfield, Colorado, September 21, 1986
On September 21, 1986 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Cessna 185C, registered N2674Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Broomfield, Colorado (Jeffco airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt. 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
- September 21, 1986 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Broomfield, Colorado · Jeffco · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185C · all 185Cs on the register
- Registration
- N2674Z · no longer on the register · serial 1850674
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT STATED THAT HE MADE AN 'EXTRA SMOOTH LANDING' ON RWY 11L AND DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. EXAMINATION OF LANDING GEAR MOUNTING BOLT REVEALED EVIDENCE OF AN OVERLOAD FAILURE. THE ENGINEER THAT EXAMINED THE BOLT, NUT, AND MOUNTING PLATE STATED THAT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF PREVIOUS 'WEAR' AROUND THE BOLT HOLE. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF DIRT AND GREASE FOUND BETWEEN THE LANDING GEAR AND THE MOUNTING PLATE. THE WIND WAS REPORTED TO BE 040 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,176 hours in all; 1,176 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 1,063 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,956 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 8, 1986; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-470-F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LXN Lexington NE at 2:45 pm
- Destination: BJC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 11L, 7,498 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:10 pm from BJC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.