# Accident 20020923026829A: Piper PA28R200, Chromo, CO, September 23, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 23, 2002, 20:15 local time
- Place: Chromo, CO
- Damage: Destroyed
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.1011° N, 106.7397° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1011&lon=-106.7397&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6227J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6227J-2013-08-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28R-200 (registry code 7102811, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28R200
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW02FA262](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02FA262) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020923026829A

## Narrative

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

(-23) AIRCRAFT HAD JUST BEEN PURCHASED IN CALIF. THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. AFTER STOPS IN PRC AND FMN FOR FUEL, THE CREW WAS ON FINAL LEG TO APA ON V-210, CRUISING VFR AT NIGHT AT 9,500'. SOON AFTER DEPARTING FMN THE CREW CALLED DEN CTR REQUESTING FLIGHT FOLLOWING. NO FURTHER TRANSMISSIONS WERE MADE TO CENTER AFTER INITIAL CONTACT. THE MEA FOR V-210 IS 9000' FOR THE FIRST 31 MILES, THEN RISES TO 15,000' UNTIL CROSSING ALAMOSA. THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN IN A VERY SLOW CLIMB FROM ITS INITIAL 9,500' CALL-IN TO CENTER, BUT STRUCK NAVAJO PEAK AT APPROX. 11,100'. THE PIC WAS A VERY LOW TIME PILOT, BUT THE OTHER PILOT IN THE AIRCRAFT (MR. MASON) WAS A SEASONED CFI, WELL RESPECTED IN THE AVIATION COMMUNITY AND FSDO AND AN EXPERIENCED "MOUNTAIN FLYING" PILOT. IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT THE NEWLY PURCHASED AIRCRAFT HAD APPARENTLY BEEN WELL MAINTAINE. FURTHER, THE SELLER, DR. FIGNATNER, STATED THAT HE HAD INSTALLED "EVERY SAFETY GADGET" (INSTRUMENTATION) "THAT WOULD FIT" IN THE AIRCRAFT. AUTOPSY REPORT IS PENDING.

## 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 FTW02FA262](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02FA262), Sep 24, 2002: Piper PA-28R-200 (N6227J), Chromo, CO, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The flight instructor's failure to maintain clearance with the mountainous terrain during the cross-country flight. A contributing factor was the dark night light 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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