# NTSB DEN81FTE48: Piper PA-38, N2609, Grand Junction, CO, June 23, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: June 23, 1981
- Place: Grand Junction, CO · GRAND JUNCTION, CO
- Location: 39.0639° N, 108.5506° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Grand Junction, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0639&lon=-108.5506&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 21, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125234
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81FTE48
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FTE48

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2465  81/6/23    GRAND JUNCTION CO   PIPER PA-38         CR-  0  1  0  INSTRUCTIONAL             STUDENT, AGE 39, 51 TOTAL
        TIME - 0915                    N2609               PX-  0  0  0  SOLO                      HOURS, 44 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          PRICE,UT                    RETURN                       GRAND JUNCTION CO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR: INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF FLIGHT
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        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                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      78
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- SOLO X-COUNTRY OVER MTN RANGE.CRASHED AT 8500FT LEVEL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2609 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

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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