Piper PA-18A-180 accident near Westcliffe, Colorado, May 27, 1995
On May 27, 1995 at about 9:22 pm local time, a Piper PA-18A-180, registered N7808Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Westcliffe, Colorado (Silver West airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO THE ENCOUNTER WITH THE DUST DEVIL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 1995 · about 9:22 pm local time
- Place
- Westcliffe, Colorado · Silver West · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18A-180 · all PA-18A-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7808Z · registry record · serial 18-8485
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF ROLL, AT A SPEED OF 45 TO 50 MILES PER HOUR, THE AIRPLANE 'VEERED HARD RIGHT.' THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT, BUT RECEIVED NO RESPONSE TO HIS CONTROL INPUTS. THE AIRPLANE EXITED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, IMPACTED A DIRT BANK, NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. DUST DEVILS WERE OBSERVED MOVING ACROSS THE AIRPORT AROUND THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. WITNESSES REPORTING NO VISIBLE DUST ASSOCIATED WITH THE DUST DEVILS STATED THAT FOLDING CHAIRS AND LOOSE OBJECTS WERE TOSSED AROUND.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,066 hours in all; 185 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15,560 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 24, 1995; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4CO3 at 9:22 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 7,000 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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 N7808Z 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.