The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB DEN88LA079 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Piper PA-28RT-201T accident near Aurora, Colorado, February 21, 1988

On February 21, 1988 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28RT-201T, registered N2904C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Aurora, Colorado (Aurora airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 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
February 21, 1988 · about 5:30 pm local time
Place
Aurora, Colorado · Aurora
Type
Accident
Injuries
2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Piper PA-28RT-201T PA-28RT-20 · all PA-28RT-201Ts on the register
Registration
N2904C · registry record · serial 28R-7931250
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English

Pilot

  • Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
  • Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
  • Flight time: 1,752 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 1,708 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: rgt

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 2,002 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, January 26, 1988; 27 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: retractable
  • Engine: Continental TSIO-360-FB (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: GWS Glenwood Sprg CO at 4:00 pm
  • Destination: O1V
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 32, 5,000 ft by 40 ft
  • A second pilot was aboard

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
  • Visibility: 25 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1
Passengers21

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.

Other NTSB records under N2904C the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time

2002-11-06DEN03LA014 · accident near Grand Junction, CO · substantial damage · no injuries

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.