# NTSB DEN80FTE60: Piper PA-30, N8172Y, Elbert, CO, June 24, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: June 24, 1980
- Place: Elbert, CO · ELBERT, CO
- Location: 39.2194° N, 104.5397° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Elbert, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2194&lon=-104.5397&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 24, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 130536
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN80FTE60
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN80FTE60

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2532  80/6/24    ELBERT,CO           PIPER PA-30         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1850                    N8172Y              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 31, 781 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            8 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - FYING D RANCH
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ELBERT,CO                   LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: VALVE ASSEMBLIES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPERLY INSTALLED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        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
           90                                                      180
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           15                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- 1ST FLT AFTR CYL REPLACEMENT.EXH VALVE SEAT NOT FULLY PRESSED INTO CYL BODY.DA APRX 10700FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8172Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8172Y), registered now, S/N 30-1286, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Fying D Ranch

## 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 19800624023479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800624023479A), Jun 24, 1980: Piper PA30, Elbert, CO, Substantial damage. One engine malfunctioned during takeoff causing loss of control, resulting in crash.

## Other investigations on N8172Y (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 IAD74FLQ28](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD74FLQ28), Apr 29, 1974: Piper PA-30 (N8172Y), Louisville, KY, substantial damage

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.