# NTSB DEN81FTE55: Piper PA-28R, N31568, Westcliffe, CO, July 7, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: July 7, 1981
- Place: Westcliffe, CO · WESTCLIFFE, CO
- Location: 38.1342° N, 105.4653° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Westcliffe, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1342&lon=-105.4653&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report August 28, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125117
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81FTE55
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FTE55

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1782   81/7/7    WESTCLIFFE,CO       PIPER PA-28R        CR-  0  0  2  INSTRUCTIONAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1000                    N31568              PX-  0  0  0  DUAL                      AGE 20, 328 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            17 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          PUEBLO,CO                   RETURN                       SALIDA,CO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FLEW INTO BLIND CANYON
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - 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                                                      76
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- FLEW INTO BOX CANYON,ENCTRD DWNDFT.D/A APRX 14000FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N31568](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N31568-1982-09-24), registration cancelled 1982-09-24, S/N 28R-7803287 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201t) (registry code 7102813) (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 19810707043019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810707043019A), Jul 7, 1981: Piper PA28RT201, Westcliffe, CO, Substantial damage. Instructor demonstrating how to obtain lift from mountain. Ridges got caught in downdraft and could not clear ridge

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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