20131212024069A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper PA-24-250 · Collbran, CO · December 12, 2013

Date: December 12, 2013 · 12:53 local
Place: Collbran, CO
Phase of flight: Other, Specify
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N8037P
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN14FA084
Reported as: Piper PA-24-250
Reported engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 3
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot

N8037PRegistration cancelled Jun 26, 2014 · Piper PA-24-250S/N 24-3284 · Built 1962 Airframe modelPiper PA-24-250 Engine modelLycoming TI0-540 seriesTurbo-prop

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.

Due to the state and location of the aircraft, we are unable to determine exactly what happened at this time. Aircraft will be retrieved via helicopter and the engine and propeller will be further inspected. It appears that the aircraft stalled at low altitude and then impacted the ground. All passengers and pilot were instantly killed. The propeller and most of the engine components are buried in the frozen ground under a foot of snow. This report will be amended.

As the FAA filed it

DUE TO THE STATE AND LOCATION OF THE AIRCRAFT, WE ARE UNABLE TO DETERMINE EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED AT THIS TIME. AIRCRAFT WILL BE RETRIEVED VIA HELICOPTER AND THE ENGINE AND PROPELLER WILL BE FURTHER INSPECTED. IT APPEARS THAT THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AT LOW ALTITUDE AND THEN IMPACTED THE GROUND. ALL PASSENGERS AND PILOT WERE INSTANTLY KILLED. THE PROPELLER AND MOST OF THE ENGINE COMPONENTS ARE BURIED IN THE FROZEN GROUND UNDER A FOOT OF SNOW. THIS REPORT WILL BE AMENDED.

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 CEN14FA084Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportCollbran, COThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering at a low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin and subsequent impact with terrain.Dec 12, 2013 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N8037P · 1

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

Incident 20100507034139ILanding: Rollout · Grand Junction, COLanding gear motor failed before the gear completed its cycle to down and locked. The gear linkages locked when the pilot performed the emergency procedure. The result was the gear collasped, causiing minor damage to the aircraft.May 7, 2010 · Minor damage