# NTSB DEN73FTE50: Piper PA-28, N240SC, Greeley, CO, February 3, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: February 3, 1973
- Place: Greeley, CO · GREELEY, CO
- Location: 40.4233° N, 104.7091° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Greeley, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4233&lon=-104.7091&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report April 13, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 170002
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN73FTE50
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN73FTE50

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0311   73/2/3    GREELEY,COLO        PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 0827                    N240SC              PX-  0  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 47, 2081 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            443 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT -  WELD COUNTY,COLO
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WELD COUNTY,COLO            PUEBLO,COLO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       27
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- IFR TAKEOFF.WENT ON AND OFF INSTMNTS.DISORIENTED.LOST ALTITUDE.FLEW INTO HAYSTACK.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N240SC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N240SC-1974-05-15), registration cancelled 1974-05-15, S/N 28-26232 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport:  Weld County,Colo

## 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 19730203002509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730203002509A), Feb 3, 1973: Piper PA28140, Greeley, CO, Substantial damage. IFR takeoff. Went on and off instmnts. Disoriented.lost altitude. Flew into haystack.

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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