# Accident 20020801023369A: Piper PA28180, Gypsum, CO, August 1, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 1, 2002, 08:55 local time
- Place: Gypsum, CO
- Damage: Destroyed
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.8086° N, 107.2764° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8086&lon=-107.2764&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6444J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6444J-2003-05-08) (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
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW02FA222](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02FA222) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020801023369A

## Narrative

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

(-23) AT 0835 THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED RUNWAY 25 AT EAGLE, CO. ON A FLIGHT PLAN TO IDAHO FALLS, ID. THE ENGINE HAD ACCUMULATED OVER 2750 TOTAL HOURS. THE AIRPORT ALTITUDE IS 6548 FEET AND AFTER 5000 FEET OF TAKEOFF ROLL THE AIRCRAFT PROCEEDED OVER THE COLORADO RIVER BASIN AND WAS LAST OBSERVED FLYING UP SWEETWATER CANYON AREA AT 200-300 FEET AGL. APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES LATER, 20 MILES NORTH WEST OF THE AIRPORT, THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED ROLLING GRASS AND ROCK TERRAIN AT AN ELEVATION OF 10,050 FEET. THE RIGHT WING HIT A FOUR (4) FOOT HIGH ROCK AT THE INITIAL IMPACT SITE ROTATING THE WING BACK AND PARALLEL TO THE FUSELAGE. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST FACING 180 DEGREES FROM THE FLIGHT PATH AND A FIRE ENSUED. INVESTIGATION AT THE SCENE INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS PRODUCING POWER. THE ENGINE EXHAUST WAS BLACK INDICATING AN EXCESSIVELY RICH FUEL TO AIR MIXTURE.

## 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 FTW02FA222](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02FA222), Aug 1, 2002: Piper PA-28-180 (N6444J), Gypsum, CO, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to perform remedial action and maintain clearance with the rising mountainous terrain. Contributing factors were the pilot's poor planning/decision, the rising terrain, and the…

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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