# NTSB DEN78FTE74: Piper PA-28, N33445, Colorado Spngs, CO, July 16, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: July 16, 1978
- Place: Colorado Spngs, CO · COLORADO SPNGS, 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: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 14, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 140832
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN78FTE74
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN78FTE74

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2675  78/7/16    COLORADO SPNGS,CO   PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 43, 1000
        TIME - 1613                    N33445              PX-  0  1  2  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 586 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - PETERSON FIELD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          COLORADO SPNGS,CO           CARNEGIE,OKLA.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - PREMATURE LIFT-OFF
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPERLY LOADED AIRCRAFT-WEIGHT-AND/OR C.G.
           WEATHER - WIND SHEAR
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY WEATHER BUREAU PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  10000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     HEAD WIND 338-022 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           83                                                      320
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           20                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- WINDS VARIABLE NEAR CB.100 LBS OVER WEIGHT.DENSITY ALTITUDE 9000 FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N33445](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N33445-1980-07-28), registration cancelled 1980-07-28, S/N 28R-7535152, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Peterson Field

## 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 19780716020159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780716020159A), Jul 16, 1978: Piper PA28R200, Colorado Spngs, CO, Substantial damage. Winds variable near cb.100 lbs over weight. Density altitude 9000

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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