Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Sterling, Colorado, January 16, 1986
On January 16, 1986 at about 1:50 am local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N33535, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sterling, Colorado (Crosson Field). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- January 16, 1986 · about 1:50 am local time
- Place
- Sterling, Colorado · Crosson Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N33535 · no longer on the register · serial 28R7535158
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PLT, DURING THE CHECKRIDE FOR HIS COMMERCIAL PLT CERTIFICATE, THE FLT EXAMINER GAVE HIM A SIMULATED ELECTRICAL FAILURE & TURNED THE LANDING LIGHTS OFF. THE PLT STATED THAT DURING THE NIGHT LANDING FLARE, HE LOST VISUAL REFERENCE WITH THE RWY DUE TO SNOWBANKS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE RWY AND THE ACFT SLID TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT SAID THE RIGHT WING AND RIGHT MAIN GEAR CONTACTED THE SNOWBANK BEFORE HE REALIZED THE DRIFT HAD OCCURRED.
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: 506 hours in all; 182 in this make and model; 93 in the last 30 days; 462 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,000 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 19, 1985; 120 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 4,700 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 am from AKO, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.