# NTSB DEN02LA015: Piper PA-28-235, N8704W, Crested Butte, CO, December 18, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 18, 2001, 10:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Crested Butte, CO - Coordinates: 38.870227, -106.980308 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8702&lon=-106.9803&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 25, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 53930 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN02LA015 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53930/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02LA015 ## Probable cause a wet brake that later froze resulting in a loss of directional control on landing. A contributing factor was the snow bank. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not possible, pilot in command - landing gear,normal brake system - frozen (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snowbank (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot said the runway was covered by a thin layer of snow that had recently been plowed. The airplane touched down, rolled about 10 feet, and began "pulling" to the left. The pilot applied right rudder but to no avail. He applied full right aileron and lifted the left wing to clear an 18-inch snow bank on the side of the runway. The airplane traveled another 100 feet before the left wing lost lift and settled back down to the runway. The airplane "went through snow," spun around, and stopped 20 feet off the side of the runway. The pilot found a skid mark on the runway made by the left wheel. He suspected the wheel may have gotten wet when he had taxied for takeoff and the brake froze. He said the temperature at 12,000 feet was -20 degrees F. ## Factual narrative On December 18, 2001, approximately 1045 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-235, N8704W, operated by Cherokee Flyers, LLC, of Grand Junction, Colorado, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain following a loss of control while landing at Crested Butte, Colorado. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated in Grand Junction at 1000. According to the pilot, runway 29 was covered by a thin layer of snow that had recently been plowed. The airplane touched down, rolled about 10 feet, and began "pulling" to the left. The pilot applied right rudder but to no avail. He applied full right aileron and lifted the left wing to clear an 18-inch snow bank on the side of the runway. The airplane traveled another 100 feet before the left wing lost lift and settled back down to the runway. The airplane "went through snow," spun around, and stopped 20 feet off the side of the runway. The pilot said that after walking along the runway and locating the point of touch down, he noted a skid mark made by the left wheel. He suspected the wheel may have gotten wet while taxiing at Grand Junction and the brake froze. He said the temperature at 12,000 feet was -20 degrees F. Initial examination of the airplane revealed the nose landing gear had collapsed and the fuselage was wrinkled. When the airplane was retrieved by the salvage firm, it was discovered that both wing spars were twisted and the firewall was buckled. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8704W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8704W-2003-02-20), registration cancelled 2003-02-20, S/N 28-10237, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-235 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-10237 - Airframe hours: 2264 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-B4B5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jerry W. Elliott, doing business as Cherokee Flyers, LLC - Registered owner: Cherokee Flyers, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: GJT, Grand Junction, CO - Destination: 0CO2, Crested Butte, CO - Airport: 0CO2, Buckhorn Ranch, runway 29, 4,000 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 29, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 190 total, 145 in this make and model, 150 as pilot in command, 54 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 14 °F, dew point 3 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: GUC, 98 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 20011218036429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011218036429A), Dec 18, 2001: Piper PA28235, Crestedbutte, CO, No damage. (-23) On December 18, 2001, at approximately 1045 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-2345, N8704W, operated by cherokee flyers, LLC, of grand junction,… 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.