Piper PA-24-180 accident near Broomfield, Colorado, September 8, 1991
On September 8, 1991 at about 9:24 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-180, registered N16WW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Broomfield, Colorado (Jeffco airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL AND HIS MISJUDGED FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION POWER LOSS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 1991 · about 9:24 pm local time
- Place
- Broomfield, Colorado · Jeffco · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-180 · all PA-24-180s on the register
- Registration
- N16WW · registry record · serial 24-165
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED HE TOOK OFF FROM FRONT RANGE AIRPORT, WATKINS, CO, EN ROUTE TO JEFFCO AIRPORT, BROOMFIELD, CO, A FLIGHT DURATION OF APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES, WITH 12 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD. WHILE ON BASE LEG AT JEFFCO, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. WHILE TURNING ONTO FINAL APPROACH, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH GUY WIRES AND CRASHED. THE PASSENGER TOLD THE AIRPORT OPERATIONS MANAGER THEY HAD 'RUN OUT OF GAS.' EXAMINATION DISCLOSED NO FUEL IN THE FUEL TANKS. THE FUEL SYSTEM HAD NOT BEEN COMPROMISED. THERE WERE NO FUEL STAINS ON THE GROUND.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,600 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FTG Watkins CO at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 9,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,800 ft; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N16WW 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.