Piper PA-28-161 accident near Greeley, Colorado, November 18, 1991
On November 18, 1991, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N9811C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greeley, Colorado (Weld 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
A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER ON INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB DUE TO A BENT AND LOOSE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL MECHANISM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 18, 1991
- Place
- Greeley, Colorado · Weld County
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N9811C · no longer on the register · serial 78-16532
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING INITIAL CLIMB, FOLLOWING TAKEOFF AFTER CONDUCTING SEVERAL TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS, THE ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER. FLIGHT COULD NOT BE MAINTAINED AND THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TOOK OVER CONTROL AND LANDED THE AIRPLANE IN A FIELD. DURING LANDING ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A FRESHLY PLOWED AREA WHICH WAS SOFT AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 540 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 86 in the last 90 days; 43 in the last 30 days; 398 as pilot in command; 283 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 230° at 4 knots, gusting 1
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- 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.
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.