# NTSB DEN76AD057: Piper PA-28R, N3784T, Aurora, CO, July 9, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 9, 1976
- 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: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 3, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 154646
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN76AD057
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN76AD057

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2443   76/7/9    AURORA,CO           PIPER PA-28R        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 37, 575
        TIME - 1825                    N3784T              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 571 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - STAPLETON INTL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          AURORA,CO                   LUBBOCK,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           TURBULENCE                                               TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: TRAFFIC PATTERN-CIRCLING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           WEATHER - WIND SHEAR
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    9000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                      NONE, THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      87
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          180                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- WIND SPEED INCREASED SUDDENLY FROM 10 TO 36 KTS AT TIME OF ACCIDENT. CABIN DOOR OPENED AFTER TKOF.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3784T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3784T-1976-12-01), registration cancelled 1976-12-01, S/N 28R-30097, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (registry code 7102809) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Stapleton Intl

## 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 19760709031999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760709031999A), Jul 9, 1976: Piper PA28R, Aurora, CO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Wind speed increased suddenly from 10 to 36 KTS at time of accident. Cabin door opened after tkof.

## Other investigations on N3784T (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 FTW76DQG55](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW76DQG55), Feb 18, 1976: Piper PA-28R (N3784T), Brownfield, TX, 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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