Cessna A185F accident near Erie, Colorado, December 23, 1994
On December 23, 1994 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Cessna A185F, registered N8389Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Erie, Colorado (Parkland airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people 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 MAINTAIN AIRSPEED RESULTING IN THE INADVERTENT STALL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 23, 1994 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Erie, Colorado · Parkland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N8389Q · no longer on the register · serial 18503678
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF THE AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT MAINTAIN A CLIMB. WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE AIRPLANE IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE DESCEND TO GROUND IMPACT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED ALONG THE RUNWAY SEVERAL TIMES AND HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE AIRCRAFT EXITED THE RUNWAY AND CAME TO REST ON A TAXIWAY. THE PASSENGER REPORTED THAT AFTER THE LAST BOUNCE 'THE NOSE DROPPED' AND THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED THE RUNWAY IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE.
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: 474 hours in all; 398 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 372 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,478 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 4, 1994; 178 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D40B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 3V5 Fort Collins CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 4,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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 N8389Q 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.