# NTSB CEN26LA272: Piper PA-28-236, N2904R, Glenwood Springs, CO, May 3, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 3, 2026, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Glenwood Springs, CO - Coordinates: 39.504933, -107.30796 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5049&lon=-107.3080&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 1, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Salt Lake City FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 203474 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA272 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203474/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203474 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA272 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a fuel farm fence while taxiing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-236, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102815), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-236, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=7102815), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-236, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=7102815), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-236, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=7102815), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-236, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=7102815), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) - [Taxi-to runway: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-236, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102815), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a turn while taxiing near a fuel farm at a slow speed, the airplane's left wing contacted the fuel facility fence. Following the initial impact, the airplane pivoted toward the fence, resulting in additional contact with the fenced enclosure. The collision resulted in substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Following the accident, the pilot identified several areas to reduce the risk of similar occurrences. These areas included conducting a more deliberate visual assessment of obstacle clearance before initiating turns in confined ramp or taxi areas, requesting wing-walking assistance or external guidance when maneuvering near obstacles, and allowing additional taxi distance before beginning turns to increase wingtip clearance margins. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2904R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2904R), registered now, S/N 28-7911237 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-236 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-236](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-236) (registry code 7102815) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7911237 - Year built: 1979 - Engines: Lycoming Engines O-540-J3A5D 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Club Cherokee Inc - Registered owner: Club Cherokee Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: GNB, Granby, CO - Destination: GWS, Glenwood Springs, CO - Airport: GWS, Sumers Airpark - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 6, 2024; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 525 total, 140 in this make and model, 410 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1.5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: K5SM, 6 nm away - METAR: K5SM 031855Z AUTO 10SM BKN070 OVC080 05/M09 A3029 RMK AO2 ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 1, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203474. 6.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 6.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20863155&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA272%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 386 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20862941&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA272%20photo%20array-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.