# Accident 19970315003181A: Piper PA28180, Ft Collins, CO, March 15, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 15, 1997
- Place: Ft Collins, CO
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Collision: Midair collision, first aircraft
- Location: 40.6492° N, 105.0293° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6492&lon=-105.0293&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4860T, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4860T-2017-06-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-180 (registry code 7102808, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28180
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW97LA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA124) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970315003181A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

AIRCRAFT WAS TAKING OFF, AIRBORNE BUT SEEN STAGGERING OUT. CRASHED INTO PILOT CENTER. THREE OTHER AIRCRAFT HIT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW97LA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA124), Mar 15, 1997: Piper PA-28-180 (N4860T), Fort Collins, CO, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to remove completely ice/frost from the wing, impeding the airplane's aerodynamic performance. Factors were wing contamination by frost and ice.

## Other reports on N4860T (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19881111070619I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881111070619I), Nov 11, 1988: Piper PA28180 (N4860T), Gothenburg, NE, Minor damage. Engine sputtered then quit IFR en route. Minor damage on forced landing. No engine defects noted post incident.
- [Accident 19731011033249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19731011033249A), Oct 11, 1973: Piper PA28180 (N4860T), Jeanette, PA, Substantial damage. Plt forced acft onto rwy nose gr broke. Wind gusting.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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