# NTSB DEN83LA069: Piper PA-34-200, N8295L, Erie, CO, February 28, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 28, 1983, 15:45 local (22:45 UTC)
- Place: Erie, CO
- Coordinates: 40.020641, -105.040405 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0206&lon=-105.0404&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16046
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83LA069
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16046/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83LA069

## Sequence of events

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

- Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - inadequate (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - ditch (contributing factor)
- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear - overload
  - landing gear,main gear - failure,total

## Analysis

THE PLT STATED HE ENCOUNTERED AN UNEXPECTED DOWNDRAFT OR SHEAR EFFECT & LANDED APPROXIMATELY 102 FT SHORT OF THE RWY. THE ACFT THEN COLLIDED WITH A BAR DITCH LOCATED ABOUT 63 FT FROM THE THRESHOLD FOLDING BACK THE MAIN GEAR. THE ACFT THEN SLID DOWN THE CENTERLINE OF THE RWY, VEERED OFF TO THE RIGHT SIDE & STOPPED APPROXIMATELY 75-100 FT FROM THE APPROACH END OF THE RWY. THE DITCH WAS ABOUT 3 FT WIDE & 2 FT DEEP, & IS ORIENTED PERPENDICULAR TO THE RWY. THERE WAS ANOTHER MUCH LARGER DITCH LOCATED AT THE OPPOSITE END OF THE RWY. NEITHER DITCH WAS MENTIONED IN ANY ARPT PUBLICATION OR NOTAM IDENTIFYING IT AS A POTENTIAL HAZARD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N8295L (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-8170033
- Airframe hours: 1250
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-EB 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Aztec Industries, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 30, 1982, 0 hours before
- Departed: DEN, DENVER, CO
- Airport: 48V, Tri County, runway 33, 5,280 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,397 total, 380 in this make and model, 1,257 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BJC, 6 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 19830228005619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830228005619A), Feb 28, 1983: Piper PA34200T, Erie, CO, Substantial damage. Pilot allowed aircraft to touch down 100 feet short of runway causing main gear to collapse.

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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