# Accident 20130618010809A: Piper PA-28R-180, Durango, CO, June 18, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 18, 2013, 11:35 local time
- Place: Durango, CO
- Airport: La Plata County Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.1514° N, 107.7536° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1514&lon=-107.7536&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7444J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7444J-2013-12-27) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28R-180 (registry code 7102809, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-180
- Reported engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 617 total, 88 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN13LA358](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA358) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130618010809A

## Narrative

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

ON JUNE 18, 2013 AT 1140; N7444J WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AT THE DURANGO LA PLATA COUNTY AIRPORT (DRO). THE AIRCRAFT HAD FUEL AND THE PILOT REPORTED HE SUPPED AND SAMPLED THE FUEL TANKS NO CONTAMINATE REPORTED. ENGINE WAS REPORTED AS RUNNING WELL. THE PILOT ADJUSTED THE ENGINE FOR MAX RPM BEFORE STARTING THE TAKE-OFF ATTEMPT ON RUNWAY 21 HEADING SOUTH. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS REPORTED AT 8900? TAKE OFF SPEED WAS AT 80KTS. DURING CLIMB OUT THE AIRCRAFT RISES APPROXIMATELY 100? OFF OF THE RUNWAY AT WHICH TIME THE AIRCRAFT IS REPORTED TO NOT BE ABLE TO CLIMB OR MAINTAIN ALTITUDE DESPITE CORRECTIONS BY THE PILOT TO BOTH THE THROTTLE AND PROP SETTINGS. THE AIRCRAFT BEGINS A CONTROLLED DECENT BACK TO TERRAIN THE AIRCRAFT LANDS 400? OFF THE SOUTHERN END OF THE RUNWAY. DURING THE CONTROLLED STOP OF THE AIRCRAFT, THE APPROACH LIGHTS AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY WERE STRUCK BY THE AIRCRAFT. PILOT STATES HE CALCULATED AND ADJUSTED HIS TAKE-OFF SPEED AND POWER SETTINGS FOR THE DENSITY ALTITUDE THAT DAY. DURING THIS INVESTIGATION THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE WAS INSPECTED AND NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WERE REPORTED.

## 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 CEN13LA358](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA358), Jun 18, 2013: Piper PA-28R-180 (N7444J), Durango, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper decision to take off with a tailwind at a high-density altitude, which resulted in the airplane’s failure to maintain the initial climb rate.

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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