# NTSB DEN76FTE85: Piper PA-28, N43492, Ft Collins, CO, July 29, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: July 29, 1976
- Place: Ft Collins, CO · FT COLLINS, CO
- Location: 40.5853° N, 105.0844° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fort Collins, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5853&lon=-105.0844&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 9, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 154990
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN76FTE85
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN76FTE85

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2070  76/7/29    FT COLLINS,CO       PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  0  2  INSTRUCTIONAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1730                    N43492              PX-  0  0  0  DUAL                      AGE 21, 755 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            235 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - DOWNTOWN FT COLLI
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          FT COLLINS,CO               LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE IN FLIGHT,CLEAR AIR
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DISREGARD OF GOOD OPERATING PRACTICE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        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                                                      85
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          290                                                       20
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- PEAK WIND GUSTS TO 70MPH PRIOR TO DEPARTURE.ACFT ALSO STRUCK POWERLINE AND ONE HORSE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N43492](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N43492-1976-10-14), registration cancelled 1976-10-14, S/N 287425371, built 1974 (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: Downtown Ft Colli

## 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 19760729024259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760729024259A), Jul 29, 1976: Piper PA28140, Ft Collins, CO, Destroyed. Peak wind gusts to 70MPH prior to departure. Acft also struck powerline and one horse.

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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