# NTSB DEN77FA056: Piper PA-32T, N4864S, Colorado Spgs, CO, August 5, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: August 5, 1977
- Place: Colorado Spgs, CO · COLORADO SPGS, CO
- Location: 38.8339° N, 104.8214° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Colorado Springs, CO, within about 8 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8339&lon=-104.8214&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 19, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 145470
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN77FA056
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN77FA056

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3875   77/8/5  NR.COLORADO SPGS, CO  PIPER PA-32T        CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, AGE 21, 1395
        TIME - 1715                    N4864S              PX-  0  0  1  FERRY                     TOTAL HOURS, 32 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TULSA,OK                    COLORADO SPGS, CO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           HAIL DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT                                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           WEATHER - HAIL
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
                                  ADVERSE/UNFAVORABLE WEATHER
                                  SUSPECTED OR KNOWN AIRCRAFT DAMAGE
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  2500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     HAIL
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4864S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4864S-2009-12-08), registration cancelled 2009-12-08, S/N 32-1288, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32T
- 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

## 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 19770805021619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770805021619A), Aug 5, 1977: Piper PA32260, Colorado Spgs, CO, Substantial damage

## Other investigations on N4864S (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 CEN09LA605](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA605), Sep 25, 2009: Piper PA-32-260 (N4864S), Troy, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power during initial climb due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's selection of an empty or nearly empty main tank for takeoff.

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.