# NTSB DEN78FTE27: Piper PA-23, N3257P, Boulder, CO, February 2, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: February 2, 1978
- Place: Boulder, CO · BOULDER, CO
- Location: 40.0244° N, 105.2513° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Boulder, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0244&lon=-105.2513&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 9, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 143723
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN78FTE27
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN78FTE27

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0229   78/2/2    BOULDER,CO          PIPER PA-23         CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1610                    N3257P              PX-  0  0  0  FERRY                     AGE 48, 4635 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            2 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BOULDER CITY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BOULDER,CO                  GRAND JUNCTION,CO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- LANDED IN ROUGH FIELD.AC NOT FLOWN IN ONE YEAR.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3257P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3257P-2010-12-09), registration cancelled 2010-12-09, S/N 23-1202, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-160) (registry code 7102304) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Boulder City

## 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 19780202000819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780202000819A), Feb 2, 1978: Piper PA23, Boulder, CO, Substantial damage. Landed in rough field. Ac not flown in one year.

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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