# NTSB DEN83AA019: Piper 601P, N3641T, Fountain, CO, November 13, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: November 12, 1982, 23:03 local (Nov 13, 1982, 06:03 UTC)
- Place: Fountain, CO
- Coordinates: 38.660949, -104.690208 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6609&lon=-104.6902&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 12, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70731
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83AA019
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70731/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83AA019

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded (cause)
  - fatigue, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fatigue, copilot/second pilot (contributing factor)
  - other psychological condition, pilot in command
  - impairment(alcohol), copilot/second pilot
  - impairment(drugs), pilot in command
  - impairment(drugs), copilot/second pilot
  - flight control,aileron - overload
  - flight control,aileron - separation
  - wing,spar - overload
  - wing,spar - separation
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AFTER TAKING OFF AT APRX 2250, THE ACFT WAS IDENTIFIED ON RADAR & OBSERVED TO CLIMB ON COURSE TO AN ALT OF 10,700 FT. THE ACFT THEN DESCENDED THRU 10,500 FT & THE CREW REPORTED THEY WOULD MAINTAIN THAT ALT. AT ABOUT 2301 THE ACFT WAS ABOUT 5 MI SE OF COLORADO SPRINGS,CO & AT 10,300 FT WHEN RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. THE ACFT CRASHED IN THAT AREA IN A NEARVERTICAL DESCENT. THE OUTBOARD 8 FT OF THE RIGHT WING HAD SEPARATED IN FLIGHT & IMPACTED ABOUT 1/4 MI FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. THE RIGHT AILERON HAD SHEARED IN 3 PIECES ALSO, & WAS FOUND NEAR THE FAILED WING. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE THE WING HAD YIELDED TO A DOWN & UP LOADING (1 CYCLE) WHEN IT SEPARATED UPWARD & REARWARD. ALL FRACTURE SURFACES HAD EVIDENCE OF OVERLOAD FAILURES EXCEPT THE AILERON CONTROL LINKAGE WHICH WAS FURTHER DAMAGED ON IMPACT & COULD NOT BE EVALUATED. BOTH PLTS WERE USING MEDICATION THAT WAS CONTRAINDICATED FOR USE BY AIRMEN, & BOTH PLTS HAD LITTLE SLEEP DURING THE PREVIOUS 48 HRS. BEFORE THE FLT THE PLT SEEMED AGITATED & THE COPLT HAD AN ODOR OF BEER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3641T (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER 601P
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 61PO81880634
- Airframe hours: 948
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-S1A5 290 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Denver Charters, Inc.
- Registered owner: W.D. Harrington
- Departed: PUB, PUEBLO, CO
- Destination: APA, ENGLEWOOD, CO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 7,200 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 20° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Temperature: 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: COS, 5 nm away

## 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 19821112059679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821112059679A), Nov 12, 1982: Piper PA60601P, Fountain, CO, Destroyed. Right aileron and wing portion failed from overload in flight. Aircraft impact near vertical. No mechanical defects

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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