- Date
- April 8, 2001
- Place
- Telluride, CO
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N7736PPiper PA-24-250
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 19, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20010408006469A
- Case key
- 52049
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during initial climb. Factors include the gusty wind and high density altitude conditions.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
After takeoff, the pilot retracted the landing gear at about 50 feet above the ground and began his initial climb. A gust of wind struck the airplane, and it descended and struck the runway with the landing gear in the retracted position. At the time of the accident, the winds were from 230 degrees at 9 knots. The two previous weather readings indicated that the winds were variable. At 1352, the winds were 170 to 240 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 21 knots. At 1411, the winds were 150 to 250 degrees at 8 knots. The airfield elevation is 9,070 feet MSL. The altimeter setting was 29.91, and temperature was 1 degree Celcius/33.3 degrees Fahrenheit. Density altitude was 9,551 feet MSL.
Factual narrative
On April 8, 2001, at approximately 1515 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250, N7736P, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during initial climb following takeoff from Telluride Regional Airport, Telluride, Colorado. The private pilot and his two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for this personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
According to the pilot, after takeoff, he retracted the landing gear at about 50 feet above the ground and began his initial climb. A gust of wind struck the airplane, forcing it to descend and strike the runway with the landing gear in the retracted position. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage skin, the bulkheads between the wing roots, and both inboard flap hinges.
At the time of the accident, the winds were from 230 degrees at 9 knots. The two previous weather readings indicated that the winds were variable. At 1352, the winds were 170 to 240 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 21 knots. At 1411, the winds were 150 to 250 degrees at 8 knots. The airfield elevation is 9,070 feet MSL. The altimeter setting was 29.91, and temperature was 1 degree Celcius/33.3 degrees Fahrenheit. Density altitude was 9,551 feet MSL.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7736P
- Reported as
- Piper PA-24-250
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 242950
- Airframe hours
- 4,320
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540 AID5, 250 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Michael Ciardullo
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 5, 2001 · 2 hours before
- Departed
- TEX · Telluride, CO
- Destination
- FFZ · Mesa, AZ
- Airport
- TEX · Telluride Regional, runway 27, 6,870 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 34
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- February 19, 2001
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 500 total · 350 in this make and model · 468 as pilot in command · 22 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 50 ft broken
- Temperature
- 34 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.90 inHg
- Observed at
- KTEX
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N7736P · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.