Cessna 182C accident near Weston, Colorado, July 20, 1989
On July 20, 1989 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Cessna 182C, registered N9038T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Weston, Colorado (Parsons Ranch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
WATER IN THE FUEL AND INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE DITCH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 1989 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Weston, Colorado · Parsons Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182C · all 182Cs on the register
- Registration
- N9038T · no longer on the register · serial 52938
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLTS WERE MOVING THE ACFT TO THE OWNER'S RANCH STRIP. ONE OF THE PLTS RPRTD THAT ON FINAL APCH TO LAND, THE ENG LOST POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE NEAR THE STRIP. HOWEVER, DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED A DITCH & NOSED OVER. THE OWNER RPRTD THAT WATER WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL SYSTEM DURING A POST ACDNT INSPN.
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
- Flight time: 300 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TAD Trinidad CO at 2:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,400 ft by 55 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.