Challenger II accident near Silt, Colorado, May 9, 1991
On May 9, 1991 at about 7:50 pm local time, a Challenger II (ultralight), an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N425DE, was destroyed in an accident near Silt, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN IN FLIGHT ENCOUNTER WITH WIND CONDITIONS WHICH EXCEEDED THE AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE CAPABILITY. A FACTOR WAS: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN AVAILABLE EN ROUTE WEATHER INFORMATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 9, 1991 · about 7:50 pm local time
- Place
- Silt, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Challenger II, amateur-built
- Registration
- N425DE · no longer on the register · serial CH20589R
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CONDUCTING A 6 MILE FLIGHT FROM A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP TO A COUNTY AIRPORT, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED IN FLIGHT WINDS WHICH EXCEEDED THE PERFORMANCE CAPABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT. AIRCRAFT ALTITUDE CONTROL WAS NOT POSSIBLE AND THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN UNCONTROLLED FLIGHT.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 40,000 hours in all; 12 in this make and model
- 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: 800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Bombardier 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Silt CO at 7:15 pm
- Destination: RIL Rifle CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 25 knots, gusting 45
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from RIL, 3 miles away
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.