# NTSB DEN80DTE44: Piper PA-36, N56844, Bethune, CO, May 12, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 12, 1980
- Place: Bethune, CO · BETHUNE, CO
- Location: 39.3038° N, 102.4234° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bethune, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3038&lon=-102.4234&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 22, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 136386
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN80DTE44
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN80DTE44

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1820  80/5/12    BETHUNE,CO          PIPER PA-36         CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, AGE 39, 2200
        TIME - 0945                    N56844              PX-  0  0  0  FERRY                     TOTAL HOURS, 109 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BETHUNE,CO                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GROUND-WATER LOOP-SWERVE                                 TAXI: TO TAKEOFF
           COLLIDED WITH: DITCHES                                   TAXI: TO TAKEOFF
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          NONE                                                      25
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        REMARKS- TKOF FRM ROAD FOR ARPT TIE-DOWN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N56844](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N56844), registered now, S/N 36-7460006, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-36
- Registry model: [Piper PA-36-285](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-36-285) (registry code 7103610) (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 19800512012539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800512012539A), May 12, 1980: Piper PA36285, Bethune, CO, Substantial damage. Tried to take off with severe gusty surface winds. Wind blew aircraft off road into a ditch.

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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