# NTSB DEN02LA073: Piper PA-28-140, N4690R, Tooele, UT, July 14, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 13, 2002, 21:58 local (Jul 14, 2002, 03:58 UTC) - Place: Tooele, UT - Coordinates: 40.535556, -112.345275 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5356&lon=-112.3453&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 6, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Adminstration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55196 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN02LA073 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55196/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55196 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02LA073 ## Probable cause the pilot-in-command failure to obtain/maintain proper rate of climb, resulting in a collision with terrain. Contributing factors were the high density altitude and exceeding the airplane's forward center of gravity limit. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, climb - proper climb rate - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot said that after taking off, the airplane was "unable to climb." The airplane impacted a field approximately 1 mile south of the airport. The airport was at an elevation of 4,316 feet msl, and the temperature was said to be in the "high nineties." Weight and balance computations were made based on data submitted by the pilot. The airplane was within weight limits, but was 0.86 inches forward of the airplane's forward center of gravity limit. Rate of climb under these conditions was estimated to be about 350 feet per minute. Using the airplane's best rate of climb airspeed of 85 miles per hour, it was estimated that the airplane would climb approximately 247 feet per mile. The difference in elevation between the departure end of runway 16 and the accident site is about 150 feet. ## Factual narrative On July 13, 2002, at 2158 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N4690R, was substantially damaged when the aircraft impacted terrain during climb near Tooele Valley-Bolinder Field, Tooele, Utah. The private pilot and two passengers on board were not injured. Night 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 at Tooele, and was en route to Salt Lake City Municipal 2 Airport, Salt Lake City, Utah. The pilot told a FAA inspector that after taking off, the airplane was "unable to climb." The airplane impacted a field approximately 1 mile south of the airport, substantially damaging the firewall and engine mounts. Weather conditions at the approximate time of the accident recorded in from Provo, Utah, located 36 miles south-southeast of the accident site were as follows: wind 010 degrees at 3 knots; sky condition clear; visibility, 10 statute miles; temperature, 82 degrees F; dew point, 59 degrees F; altimeter 29.87 inches. Tooele Valley Airport is at an elevation of 4,316 feet msl. According to another FAA inspector who was at the airport at the time of the accident, the temperature was in the "high nineties." Using this temperature and the altimeter setting recorded at Provo, Utah, the density altitude at Tooele Valley Airport was estimated to be 7,750 feet msl. Weight and balance computations were made based on data submitted by the pilot. The airplane was within weight limits, but was 0.86 inches forward of the airplane's forward center of gravity limit. Rate of climb was calculated using the Piper Cherokee 140C Owner's Handbook. The rate of climb under these conditions was calculated to be approximately 350 feet per minute. Using the best rate of climb airspeed of 85 miles per hour, it was estimated that the airplane would climb approximately 247 feet per mile. The difference in elevation between the departure end of runway 16 and the accident site is about 150 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4690R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4690R), registered now, S/N 28-21452, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-21452 - Airframe hours: 4707 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Air Center of Salt Lake - Registered owner: Floyd N. Nye - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 16, 2002 - Departed: TVY, Toole, UT - Destination: U42, Salt Lake City, UT - Airport: TVY, Bolinder Field-Tooele Valley, runway 16, 5,498 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; foreign; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review July 13, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 110 total, 3 in this make and model, 30 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 10° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: PVU, 36 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 20020713014819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020713014819A), Jul 13, 2002: Piper PA28140, Tooele, UT, Substantial damage. (.19) On July 13, 2002, at 2158 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N4690R, was substantially damaged when the aircraft impacted terrain during climb… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 29, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55196. 488 KB in all. - Supplement S (item 1, .PDF, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40166997&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 283 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40462944&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Weather Data (item 3, .PDF, 10 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40166999&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Data-Master.PDF - Weight and Balance Calculations (item 4, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40167000&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weight%20and%20Balance%20Calculations-Master.PDF - Performance Calculations (item 5, .PDF, 132 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40167001&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Performance%20Calculations-Master.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.