Piper PA-18-180 accident near Elbert, Colorado, May 19, 1991
On May 19, 1991 at about 7:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-180, registered N3182Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elbert, Colorado (Black Forest Glider Port airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S DELAY IN COMPENSATING FOR WIND CONDITIONS. FACTORS WERE: HIGH WINDS AND A CROSSWIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 19, 1991 · about 7:55 pm local time
- Place
- Elbert, Colorado · Black Forest Glider Port · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-180 · all PA-18-180s on the register
- Registration
- N3182Z · registry record · serial 18-7173
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD RELEASED A GLIDER AND HAD RETURNED TO THE AIRSTRIP. AS HE FLARED FOR A FULL STALL LANDING, A GUST OF WIND LIFTED THE LEFT WING. FULL LEFT AILERON FAILED TO STOP THE UPWARD MOVEMENT AND THE RIGHT WING SCRAPED THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT, WENT UP ON ITS NOSE, PIVOTED, AND FELL ON ITS BACK. THE PILOT ESTIMATED THE WINDS TO BE FROM THE SOUTH SOUTHEAST AT 30 TO 40 MPH, GUSTING TO OVER 45 MPH.
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
- Flight time: 655 hours in all; 114 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 586 as pilot in command
- 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: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,700 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 16 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.