# NTSB DEN67D0242: Piper PA-28, N8979W, Rocky Ford, CO, February 26, 1967

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: February 26, 1967
- Place: Rocky Ford, CO · ROCKY FORD, CO
- Location: 38.0499° N, 103.7221° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Rocky Ford, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0499&lon=-103.7221&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report August 11, 1967
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 118443
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN67D0242
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN67D0242

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0632  67/2/26    ROCKY FORD,COLO     PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 58, 38 TOTAL
        TIME - 0918                    N8979W              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, ALL IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MELLON VALLEY
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GROUND-WATER LOOP-SWERVE                                 LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     RIGHT QUARTERING HEAD WIND 023-067 DEGREES
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          330                                                       25
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- RIGHT QUARTERING HEAD WIND 50 DEGREES 25 KNOTS,GUSTING TO 35 KNOTS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8979W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8979W-1971-12-16), registration cancelled 1971-12-16, S/N 28-10813 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Mellon Valley

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.

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