# NTSB DEN01LA062: Piper PA-34-220T, N8356X, Durango, CO, March 3, 2001

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 3, 2001, 16:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place: Durango, CO
- Location: 37.2031° N, 107.8678° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at ANIMAS AIR PARK (56CO), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2031&lon=-107.8678&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 51848
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01LA062
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51848/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA062

## Probable cause

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control. A contributing factor was the blown tire.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,tire - burst (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch

## Analysis

When the airplane touched down, it veered off the side of the runway and into a ditch. The pilot said a tire blew out, causing him to lose control.

## Factual narrative

On March 3, 2001, approximately 1545 mountain standard time, N8356X, a Piper PA-34-220T, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during landing at Animas Airpark, Durango, Colorado. The commercial pilot and his three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an IFR flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Lancaster, Texas, approximately 1230 central standard time.

In his accident report, the pilot said that when the airplane touched down, it veered sharply to the right and went off the side of the runway and into a ditch. The nose landing gear was sheared off, the nose cone was shattered, both propellers were destroyed, and there was bulkhead and skin damage. In telephone conversations, the pilot said a tire blew out, causing him to lose control.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8356X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8356X), registered now, S/N 34-8133041, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-34-220T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-220T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-220t) (registry code 7103420) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-8133041
- Engines: Continental TSI0-360-KB 220 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Michael C. Petty
- Registered owner: Pamela D. Campbell
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 19, 2000
- Departed: LCN, Lancaster, TX
- Destination: DRO, Durango, CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: 56CO, Animas Air Park, runway 01, 5,010 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review December 14, 1999; seat: left; flight hours: 1,450 total, 200 in this make and model, 1,300 as pilot in command, 95 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observed at: DRO, 8 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20010303004149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010303004149A), Mar 3, 2001: Piper PA34220T, Durango, CO, No damage. (-23)The aircraft touched down and then veered off the right side of the runway. The landing gear was destroyed by sdie loads caused by sliding on the rough…

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.