20100206026951A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper PA-25-235 · Boulder, CO · February 6, 2010

Date: February 6, 2010 · 13:30 local
Place: Boulder, CO
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Collision: Midair collision
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N8718L
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN10FA115
Reported as: Piper PA-25-235
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 560 total0 in this make and model0 in the last 90 days

N8718LRegistration cancelled Jan 9, 2018 · Piper PA-25-235S/N 25-5173 · Built 1969 Airframe modelPiper PA-25-235 Engine modelLycoming 0-540 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Location 3.1 miles north and west of bdu. Impact altitude approximately 8400 MSL (approximately 3000 feet AGL). First aircraft N8187L, PA-25, was flying in a westerly direction, towing glider N2474W, sgs 232, acending to flight level 100 when it was impacted on the right side at mid fusalage by second aircraft N825BC, SR20. Inflight fire and breakup occured. Glider released from the tow line and landed at bdu without further incident.

As the FAA filed it

LOCATION 3.1 MILES NORTH AND WEST OF BDU. IMPACT ALTITUDE APPROXIMATELY 8400 MSL (APPROXIMATELY 3000 FEET AGL). FIRST AIRCRAFT N8187L, PA-25, WAS FLYING IN A WESTERLY DIRECTION, TOWING GLIDER N2474W, SGS 232, ACENDING TO FLIGHT LEVEL 100 WHEN IT WAS IMPACTED ON THE RIGHT SIDE AT MID FUSALAGE BY SECOND AIRCRAFT N825BC, SR20. INFLIGHT FIRE AND BREAKUP OCCURED. GLIDER RELEASED FROM THE TOW LINE AND LANDED AT BDU WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN10FA115Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportBoulder, COThe failure of both pilots to see and avoid the other resulting in a midair collision. Contributing to the accident was the lack of perceived visual relative motion of the Piper and the Cirrus to the pilot of each airplane, the terrain background, and the…Feb 6, 2010 · 3 aircraft · Substantial damage

Other reports on N8718L · 1

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

Incident 20021219034959IGround Taxi, Other Airplane · Boulder, CO(-23) Pilot was taxiing a tow aircraft, with tow rope attached, into position to hook up to a glider with the intention of flight. The end of the tow rope caught on something on the ground. The tow rope pulled tight as the aircraft continued to taxi. The rope…Dec 19, 2002 · Minor damage