# NTSB DEN71FTE17: Piper PA-20, N7783K, Usaf Academy, CO, June 24, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: June 24, 1971
- Place: Usaf Academy, CO · USAF ACADEMY, CO
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 1, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 161753
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN71FTE17
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN71FTE17

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2427  71/6/24    USAF ACADEMY,COLO   PIPER PA-20         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 56, 723
        TIME - 1620                    N7783K              PX-  0  0  2  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - USAFA STRIP
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          DENVER,COLO                 COLO.SPRINGS,COLO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GROUND-WATER LOOP-SWERVE                                 LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON AIRPORT
                                  ADVERSE/UNFAVORABLE WEATHER
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    5000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     RIGHT QUARTERING TAIL WIND 203-247 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           92                                                       30
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           19                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- ENCOUNTERED SEVERE TURB,DOWNDRAFTS ENROUTE.UN MAINTAIN FLT.HAD TO LND IN R X-WIND GUSTING TO 35K.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7783K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7783K-2013-08-13), registration cancelled 2013-08-13, S/N 20-610, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-20
- Registry model: [Piper PA-20](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-20) (registry code 7102002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Usafa Strip

## Other investigations on N7783K (2)

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.

- [NTSB LAX01LA206](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA206), Jun 9, 2001: Piper PA-20 (N7783K), Winnemucca, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to obtain weather information or an in-flight advisory that would have described current wind information at the destination airport and his subsequent failure to maintain…
- [NTSB UNK65X0193](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK65X0193), Oct 8, 1964: Piper PA20 (N7783K), Woods Cross, UT, substantial damage

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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