# NTSB DEN84FA225: Piper PA-32, N47403, Alma, CO, December 14, 1983 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: December 14, 1983, 00:00 local (07:00 UTC) - Place: Alma, CO - Coordinates: 39.279998, -106.06047 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2800&lon=-106.0605&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 3 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 16231 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84FA225 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16231/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84FA225 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor) - self-induced pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor) - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PLT, HIS BROTHER & HIS SISTER-IN-LAW WERE ON A FLT TO ATTEND HIS MOTHER'S FUNERAL. BEFORE TAKING OFF, THE PILOT RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING & WAS ADVISED THAT VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. THE PLT THEN ASKED FOR WX REPORTS FOR A SOUTHERLY ROUTE & HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE MOUNTAIN TOPS WERE OBSCURED ON THAT ROUTE. HE THEN INDICATED THAT HE WOULD TRY & THAT MAYBE THE WEATHER WOULD CLEAR ENOUGH FOR HIM TO GET THRU. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED ON THE SIDE OF MT DEMOCRAT, A 14,286 FT MOUNTAIN, AT THE 13,800 FT LEVEL. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE ACFT IMPACTED IN NEAR LEVEL FLT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND THAT WOULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT. THE AREA FORECAST CALLED FOR MOUNTAINS & HIGHER TERRAIN TO BE OCCASIONALLY OBSCURED IN CLOUDS & PRECIP; ROCKY MOUNTAINS 3000 TO 6000 FT THRU 20,000 FT WITH OCCASIONAL CEILINGS BELOW 1000 FT & VISIBILITY BELOW 3 MILES IN SNOW & FOG. ## Aircraft - Registration: N47403 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32R-7880005 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1G5D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Larry M. Killpack - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: APA, ENGLEWOOD, CO - Destination: SLC, SALT LAKE CITY, UT - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day ## 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 19831214061619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831214061619A), Dec 14, 1983: Piper PA32R300, Alma, CO, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Struck mountainside 2000 feet below mca. Passes were obscured by rain and snow. Had been advised VFR not recommended 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.