Piper PA-22-150 accident near Fort Collins, Colorado, March 30, 1991
On March 30, 1991 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N8543D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Collins, Colorado (Fort Collins-Loveland airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 30, 1991 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Collins, Colorado · Fort Collins-Loveland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N8543D · registry record · serial 22-5774
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE LEFT SEAT PILOT RATED PASSENGER (WHO WAS ALSO A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR) PERFORMED TWO TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS. THE RIGHT SEAT PILOT IN COMMAND TOOK CONTROL TO PERFORM THE THIRD TOUCH AND GO LANDING. A WHEEL LANDING WAS MADE. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO SWERVE LEFT AND RIGHT. IT THEN VEERED OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,340 hours in all; 179 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 2,340 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7C00 Erie CO at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 8,500 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.