Piper PA-22-160 accident near Fort Morgan, Colorado, October 15, 1986
On October 15, 1986 at about 5:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-160, registered N9748D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Morgan, Colorado (Fort Morgan Muni 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 15, 1986 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Morgan, Colorado · Fort Morgan Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-160 · all PA-22-160s on the register
- Registration
- N9748D · no longer on the register · serial 22-6661
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT HAD JUST BEEN ENDORSED FOR HIS FIRST SUPERVISED SOLO FLT. HE HAD SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED ONE LANDING AND WAS ATTEMPTING HIS SECOND LANDING WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE PLT SAID HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, TOUCHED DOWN, AND OVER CORRECTED. THE ACFT WENT OFF THE SIDE OF THE RWY 32 AND OVERTURNED. THE PLT ESTIMATED THE WINDS TO BE 290 DEG AT 5 KTS.
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: 29 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,143 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 22, 1985; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Wiggins CO at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 5,222 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 3 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.