# NTSB DEN07CA035: Piper PA-28-180, N6487J, Falcon, CO, December 8, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 7, 2006, 17:25 local (Dec 8, 2006, 00:25 UTC) - Place: Falcon, CO - Coordinates: 38.934444, -104.566947 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9344&lon=-104.5669&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 26, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 64982 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN07CA035 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64982/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=64982 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN07CA035 ## Probable cause loss of power due to carburetor icing. Contributing factors were weather conditions conducive to carburetor icing, unsuitable terrain available on which to make a forced landing and the tree. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - base turn - ice (cause) - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - emergency procedure - attempted, pilot in command - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - terrain condition - roadway/highway ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was established on a base leg for runway 15 when the engine lost power. The pilot lined up with an adjacent road and continued for a forced landing. The pilot stated that prior to the landing he checked his carburetor heat, mixture, throttle, and magnetos in attempt to troubleshoot the power loss. He stated that he observed car lights and "swerved into [the] tree." The airplane became lodged in the tree, resulting in substantial damage. An examination of the engine and related systems revealed no anomalies. The routine aviation weather report reported, temperature minus 01 degrees Celsius (C); dewpoint, minus 05 degrees C. According to the carburetor icing probability chart conditions were conducive for "serious icing at glide power" and "serious icing at cruise power." ## Factual narrative The pilot was established on a base leg for runway 15 (6,000 feet by 60 feet, asphalt) when the engine lost power. The pilot lined up with an adjacent road and continued for a forced landing. Prior to the landing he checked his carburetor heat, mixture, throttle, and magnetos in an attempt to troubleshoot the power loss. He stated that he observed car lights and "swerved into [the] tree." The airplane became lodged in the tree, crushing both wings aft and wrinkling the vertical stabilizer. The airplane was removed from the tree and relocated to a hangar in Greeley, Colorado, for further examination. An examination of the engine and related systems revealed no anomalies. The closest official weather observation station was City of Colorado Springs (COS), Colorado Springs, Colorado, located 11.6 nautical miles (nm) south southwest of the accident site. The elevation of the weather observation station was 6,184 feet msl. The routine aviation weather report (METAR) for COS, issued at 1654, reported, temperature minus 01 degrees Celsius (C); dewpoint, minus 05 degrees C. According to the carburetor icing probability chart conditions were conducive for "serious icing at glide power" and "serious icing at cruise power." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6487J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6487J-2007-06-11), registration cancelled 2007-06-11, S/N 28-4917, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-4917 - Airframe hours: 3950.3 - Engines: Lycoming O&VO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2006, 75.7 hours before - Departed: 00V, Falcon, CO - Destination: 00V, Falcon, CO - Airport: 00V, Meadow Lake Airport, runway 15, 6,000 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 1,109 total, 1 in this make and model, 912 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 160° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.43 inHg - Observed at: KCOS, 11 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 20061207026069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061207026069A), Dec 7, 2006: Piper PA28180, Colorado Spring, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) During night proficiency flight doing pattern work engine failed. Theonly occupant being the pilot made an emergency landing towards a road after engine… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 17, 2007, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=64982. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 221 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40270461&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Information (item 2, .PDF, 957 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40270462&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Information-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.