Piper PA-28-181 accident near Elbert, Colorado, April 17, 1993
On April 17, 1993 at about 3:00 am local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N38481, was destroyed in an accident near Elbert, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC. FACTORS WERE HIS LACK OF INSTRUMENT TRAINING/EXPERIENCE, EXISTING WEATHER, AND DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 1993 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Elbert, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N38481 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7790555
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT IN DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS, THE NON INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT INADVERTENTLY ENCOUNTERED INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND ON A HEADING OPPOSITE THE INTENDED DIRECTION OF TRAVEL. ALTHOUGH VMC PREVAILED AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT 28 MILES SOUTH OF THE SITE, LOCAL RESIDENTS REPORTED REDUCED VISIBILITY WITH RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS IN THE VICINITY.
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
- Flight time: 561 hours in all; 552 in this make and model; 548 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,801 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 7, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B1E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GRI Grand Island NE at 10:55 pm
- Destination: COS CO Springs CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: -99 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 am
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.
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.