# Accident 19980715021619A: Piper PA30, Denver, CO, July 15, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 15, 1998, 21:45 local time
- Place: Denver, CO
- Airport: Front Range Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Holding IFR
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.7490° N, 104.6001° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7490&lon=-104.6001&mi=10
- Aircraft: N444BP, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N444BP-2012-09-10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-30 (registry code 7103002, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-320 series (registry code 41509, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA30
- Reported engine: LYC IO320B1A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 14,500 total, 500 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98LA312](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA312) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980715021619A

## Narrative

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

ENCOUNTERED LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR. WAS FORCED ONTO GROUND. (.4)FOLLOWING TAKEOFF FOR A LOCAL AREA PERSONAL NIGHT FLIGHT, THE PILOT NOTICED LIGHTNING TO THE NORTH OF HIS POSITION SO HE RETURNED TO LAND.  WHILE ON A 2 MILE FINAL FOR LANDING ON RUNWAY 8, THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED AND STRUCK THE GROUND.  THE PILOT SAID HE THOUGHT HE ENCOUNTERED A LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR.  WEATHER AT THE TIME WAS SCATTERED CLOUDS WITH 10 MILES VISIBILITY AND WIND FROM 160 DEGREES AT 18 KNOTS.  AN AIRPORT LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS EQUIPPED WITH LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR ALERT EQUIPMENT WHICH WAS OPERATIONAL.  THE EQUIPMENT DID NOT SOUND AN ALARM.   THE PILOT SAID HE WAS FLYING AT 6,000 FEET MSL AND THE ACCIDENT SITE ELEVATION WAS 5,689 FEET MSL.                                                   (-23) THE PILOT STATED HE ENCOUNTERED A LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR OR MICRO-BURST AND THE AIRCRAFT FORCED ONTO THE GROUND.

## 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 FTW98LA312](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA312), Jul 16, 1998: Piper PA-30 (N444BP), Watkins, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot misjudged his altitude. Contributing to the accident were unfavorable wind and dark night conditions.

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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