# NTSB DEN75AD020: Piper PA-28, N3994R, Aurora, CO, October 11, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 11, 1974
- 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: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 16, 1975
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 142976
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN75AD020
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN75AD020

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3785  74/10/11   AURORA,COLO         PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 2228                    N3994R              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 37, 2631 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            59 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          MINOT,N DAK                 DENVER,COLO                  RAPID CITY,S DAK
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                LANDING: INITIAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - PILOT FATIGUE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DISREGARD OF GOOD OPERATING PRACTICE
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  800
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      44
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          310                                                       13
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- LOST CTL AT OUTER MARKER. PLT HAD FLOWN 10 HRS DAY OF ACDT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3994R (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19741011042109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19741011042109A), Oct 11, 1974: Piper PA28180, Aurora, CO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Lost ctl at outer marker. Plt had flown 10 hrs day of acdt.

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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