Cessna A185F accident near Erie, Colorado, June 13, 1990
On June 13, 1990 at about 9:50 pm local time, a Cessna A185F, registered N8389Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Erie, Colorado (Tri-County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT RECEIVING INSTRUCTION TO CHOOSE SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CFI'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 1990 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Erie, Colorado · Tri-County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N8389Q · no longer on the register · serial 18503678
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ATP-RATED CHECK PILOT-IN-COMMAND WAS EVALUATING A COMMERCIAL PILOT FOR AIRCRAFT RENTAL AND INSURANCE PURPOSES. BOTH PILOTS WERE WELL EXPERIENCED IN THE AIRPLANE. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT LANDED THE AIRPLANE ON GRASS BETWEEN THE RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY. DURING THE ROLLOUT, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUCK A LARGE ROCK AND SEPARATED FROM THE AIRPLANE. THE LEFT WING AND PROPELLER STRUCK THE GROUND, AND THE AIRPLANE SLID 300 FEET BEFORE TURNING 90 DEGREES TO THE LEFT AND COMING TO A HALT.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,900 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 105 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 4,200 as pilot in command; 1,500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2V2 Longmont CO at 9:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 5,400 ft by 65 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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 N8389Q the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.