Piper PA-12-150 accident near Milliken, Colorado, February 25, 1990
On February 25, 1990 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-12-150, registered N4053H, was destroyed in an accident near Milliken, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT, INTENTIONAL BUZZING, AND FAILURE TO SEE AND AVOID THE OBSTRUCTION (INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT). FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE POWER LINE AND THE ABSENCE OF SHOULDER HARNESSES IN THE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 25, 1990 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Milliken, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12-150 · all PA-12-150s on the register
- Registration
- N4053H · registry record · serial 12-3481
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT & HIS WIFE WERE ON A LOCAL FLT. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT FLYING BELOW THE TREE TOPS OVER THE SOUTH PLATTE RIVER. ONE WITNESS RPRTD THE ACFT'S WHEELS WERE SKIMMING THE WATER. JUST BEFORE THE ACDNT, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO PULL UP. HOWEVER, IT HIT THE TOP SET OF 3 WIRES, THEN CRASHED. THE PLT'S WIFE SURVIVED THE ACDNT, BUT SHE RECEIVED A SEVERE HEAD INJURY. THE ACFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH SHOULDER HARNESSES. THE PLT HAD NO USEFUL VISION IN HIS RIGHT EYE, BUT POSSESSED A MEDICAL WAIVER (STATEMENT OF DEMONSTRATED ABILITY) FOR THIS CONDITION.
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: 885 hours in all; 481 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,528 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 18, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 48V Erie CO at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Observation at 9:52 pm from FCL, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.