Amateur-built AA-5 accident near Watkins, Colorado, June 6, 1993
On June 6, 1993 at about 3:45 pm local time, a amateur-built AA-5, registered N7129L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Watkins, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
SPATIAL DISORIENTATION WHICH PREVENTED THE PILOT FROM MAINTAINING CONTROL. A FACTOR WAS: LOW CEILING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 1993 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Watkins, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AA-5
- Registration
- N7129L · no longer on the register · serial AA5-0629
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TAKEOFF ON AN IFR CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE PILOT COMMENCED A 180 DEGREE TURN AFTER ENTERING THE CLOUDS AT 300 FEET AGL. THE INSTRUMENTS INDICATED DIFFERENTLY THAN HIS PHYSIOLOGICAL SENSES AND HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WHICH DESCENDED IN A SPIRAL AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY TWO MILES FROM THE TAKEOFF AIRPORT.
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, flight engineer, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 803 hours in all; 41 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 740 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,145 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1993; 101 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Advanced Aviation
The flight
- Destination: DDC Dodge City KS
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:57 pm from FTG, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.