Piper PA28-180 accident near Broomfield, Colorado, June 20, 1989
On June 20, 1989 at about 7:02 am local time, a Piper PA28-180, registered N8419W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Broomfield, Colorado (Jefferson County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE STUDENT TO PROPERLY PLAN THE FLT RESULTING IN FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 1989 · about 7:02 am local time
- Place
- Broomfield, Colorado · Jefferson County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28-180 · all PA28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N8419W · no longer on the register · serial 28-2646
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THIS STUDENT PLT DEPARTED THE BROOMFIELD, CO AIRPORT LATE AT NIGHT, WITH 18 GALS OF FUEL ABOARD HIS ACFT, IN ORDER TO OBTAIN SOME NIGHT TIME FLT EXPERIENCE. AFTER FLYING ALMOST TWO HRS, AND WHILE ON APPROACH FOR LANDING, THE ACFT ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED. AFTER TRYING TO RESTART THE ENGINE WITHOUT SUCCESS, THE PLT MADE AN EMERGENCY FORCED LANDING.
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: 30 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,501 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 3, 1989; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BJC Broomfield CO at 5:30 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29R, 9,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.