Erco 415G accident near Peyton, Colorado, May 20, 1990
On May 20, 1990 at about 11:55 pm local time, a Erco 415G, registered N87212, was substantially damaged in an accident near Peyton, Colorado (Meadowlake 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
PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN OBSTACLE CLEARANCE DURING A LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 1990 · about 11:55 pm local time
- Place
- Peyton, Colorado · Meadowlake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Erco 415G · all 415Gs on the register
- Registration
- N87212 · no longer on the register · serial 385
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT FLEW LOW OVER AN ADJACENT ROAD DURING FINAL APPROACH FOR A LANDING. THE PLANE STRUCK THE RIGHT FRONT ROOF OF AN AUTOMOBILE OPERATING ON THE ROAD. THE PLANE'S LEFT LANDING GEAR SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD. THE PILOT REPORTED A LOSS OF CONTROL AFTER THE COLLISION, AND THE PLANE ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. THE PLANE LANDED HARD ON TURF, TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED, THE LEFT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND AND BROKE THE MAIN SPAR. THE PLANE CAME TO RESET NOSE DOWN, 20 YARDS LEFT AND 200 FEET DOWN THE RUNWAY.
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: flight instructor, military, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 4,760 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 4,499 as pilot in command; 1,741 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 00V at 11:22 pm
- Destination: 00V
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 4,000 ft by 35 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 6:15 pm
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.