# NTSB DEN74FTE25: Piper PA-32, N3234W, Aspen, CO, October 7, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: October 7, 1973
- Place: Aspen, CO · ASPEN, CO
- Location: 39.1952° N, 106.8368° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Aspen, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1952&lon=-106.8368&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 2 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 13, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 187902
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN74FTE25
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN74FTE25

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3852   73/10/7   ASPEN,COLO          PIPER PA-32         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 30, 253
        TIME - 1100                    N3234W              PX-  0  2  3  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 21 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - PITKIN COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ASPEN,COLO                  DENVER,COLO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN AREAS OF SEVERE TURBULENCE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      60
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          180                                                       20
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- KNOWN TURB & DWN DRAFTS DEP END OF RWY.DENSITY ALT ABT 9700 FT.NR MAX GROSS WT.UN MAINTAIN FLT.
```

## 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: Substantial damage
- Airport: Pitkin County

## 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 19731007036799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19731007036799A), Oct 7, 1973: Piper PA32RT300, Aspen, CO, Substantial damage. Known turb & dwn drafts dep end of rwy. Density alt abt 9700 ft. nr max gross wt. Un maintain flt.

## 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 DEN73FTE66](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN73FTE66), Mar 14, 1973: Piper PA-32 (N3234W), Aurora, CO, minor 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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