19981010028749A

Acft crashed under unknown circumstances, all 4 POB suffered fatal inj. (.19)on October 10, 1998, approximately 1200 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, N39663, owned by nadolf services, LLC, of aurora, Colorado, and operated by air west flying club of broomfield, Colorado, was destroyed when it collided with trees while maneuvering in the uncompahgre national forest, about 20 miles southwest of Montrose, Colorado. The private pilot and three passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under title 14 CFR part 91. The flight originated at Montrose aproximately 1140. Hunters told the ouray county sheriff's office that approximately 1200, they heard an airplane flying in the valley, then they heard a loud noise. The wreckage was located on October 11 approxiamtely 1300. Evidence gathered during the on-scene investigation indicates the airplane was in a steep left bank approximately 8,700 feet MSL when it collided with a large spruce tree. The airplane struck the tree 60 feet above the ground, then slid 10 feet down and became entagled in the branches about 50 feet above the ground. All major airplane components were accounted for. The separated engine lay 100 feet beyond the tree. Chordwise scratches were noted on the cambered surfaces of the propeller blades. Flight control continuity was established. According to the pilot's logbook retrieved from the wreckage, he began taking flying lessons in July 1998. He received his private pilot certificate on October 4, and received a mountain flying checkout on October 8. At the time of his last entry, dated October 9, the pilot had logged 66.5 hours total time, on which 4.6 hours were in this make and model. (-23)pilot sightseeing flew up canyon, hit tree while attempting 180 turn. (.4) the newly certificated private pilot and his wife took the pilot's father and sister for an airplane ride. Hunters heard an airplane flying in the valley, then heard a loud noise. Searchers were guided to the wreckage by the airplane's emergency locator transmitter. The airplane had collided with a large spruce tree while in a steep left bank, 60 feet above the ground, then slid 10 feet down and became entangled in its branches about 50 feet above the ground. The pilot had received his pilot's license 6 days earlier. He had logged 66.5 total hours, of which 4.6 were in airplane make and model. The pilot had also received 4.1 hours of dual instruction in 'mountain course/high altitude' flying. It was calculated that at the time of the accident, the airplane exceeded its aft c.g. limit slightly. Performance charts indicate that under the prevailing conditions, the airplane was capable of climbing about 240 feet per minute.