# NTSB DEN73FTE66: Piper PA-32, N3234W, Aurora, CO, March 14, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: March 14, 1973
- Place: Aurora, CO · AURORA, CO
- Location: 39.7294° N, 104.8319° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Aurora, CO, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7294&lon=-104.8319&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 4, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 170607
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN73FTE66
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN73FTE66

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0855  73/3/14    AURORA,COLO         PIPER PA-32         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                PRIVATE, AGE 27, 300
        TIME - 1405                    N3234W              PX-  0  1  5  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 15 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-MINOR        OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - SKY RANCH AIRPORT
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          AURORA,COLO                 EL PASO,TEX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR ACCIDENT TO PERSON                       STATIC: IDLING ENGINE(S)
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF FLIGHT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - OPERATED CARELESSLY
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: PASSENGER
        REMARKS- PLT NOT PROPERLY CERTD FOR FLT.ONE PAX HAD NO SEAT OR SEAT BELT.A PAX DEPLANED TO REMOVE A CHOCK.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3234W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3234W-2009-09-18), registration cancelled 2009-09-18, S/N 32-46, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Airport: Sky Ranch Airport

## 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 19730314005649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730314005649A), Mar 14, 1973: Piper PA32260, Aurora, CO, Minor damage. Plt not properly certd for flt. One pax had no seat or seat belt.a pax deplaned to remove a chock.

## Other investigations on N3234W (1)

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 DEN74FTE25](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN74FTE25), Oct 7, 1973: Piper PA-32 (N3234W), Aspen, CO, 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.

---
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.
