# NTSB DEN83FA058: North American T-28A, N28TW, N. Winter Park, CO, February 12, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 12, 1983, 14:53 local (21:53 UTC)
- Place: N. Winter Park, CO
- Coordinates: 39.880172, -105.769264 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8802&lon=-105.7693&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15970
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83FA058
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15970/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83FA058

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - low pass - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE SURVIVING PASSENGER (THE PLT'S 15 YR OLD SON), THEY SAW SOME SKIERS AFTER CROSSING OVER A MOUNTAIN PASS. HE STATED THAT AS THEY TURNED, HIS FATHER SAID, 'LET'S BUZZ THEM.' HE REPORTED THAT THEY TURNED SHARPLY, 'SORT OF DOVE DOWN TO BUZZ THEM,' THEN THAT WAS ALL HE COULD REMEMBER. ACCORDING TO ONE OF THE SKIERS THAT WAS FAMILIAR WITH T-28 ACFT, THEY HEARD & SAW THE T-28 CROSS ROLLINS PASS AT APRX 300 TO 350 FT AGL. AS THE ACFT PASSED, THEY WAVED AT IT & THEN THE PLT RESPONDED (THEY BELIEVED) BY ROCKING HIS WINGS. SOON AFTER THAT, THE ACFT WENT INTO A STEEP LEFT BANK AS IF TO TURN BACK TOWARD THEM. THE WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE ACFT WAS TURNING AT A CONSTANT ALTITUDE, WHEN THE NOSE SUDDENLY DROPPED. THE PLT LEVELED THE WINGS & THE ACFT STARTED A DIVE, THEN DISAPPEARED FROM HIS VIEW, BEHIND A RIDGE. HE HEARD POPPING SOUNDS THAT HE THOUGHT SOUNDED LIKE A T-28 HAVING HAD THE THROTTLE MOVED RAPIDLY. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ACFT HAD COLLIDED WITH TREES & CRASHED. NO PREIMPACT/MECHANICAL FAILURES FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N28TW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N28TW-2012-07-06), registration cancelled 2012-07-06, S/N 51-3616, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN T-28A
- Registry model: [North American T-28A](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-t-28a) (registry code 6402504) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Wright R-1820 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/wright-r-1820-series) (registry code 67020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 51-3616
- Airframe hours: 1225
- Engines: LYCO/WRIGHT R-1820 800 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: 844th Squadron, Incorporated
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 20, 1982, 125 hours before
- Departed: 2V2, LONGMONT, CO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,314 total, 60 in this make and model, 59 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 30 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19830212003479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830212003479A), Feb 12, 1983: Namer T28*, Winter Park, CO, Destroyed. Indicates pilot caused an accelerated stall by making a tight vertical bank in turbulent air. Dived into mountain.

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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