# NTSB DEN84LA267: Piper PA-22-150, N7346D, Aurora, CO, August 25, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 25, 1984, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Aurora, CO
- Coordinates: 39.739944, -104.779403 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7399&lon=-104.7794&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16468
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84LA267
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16468/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84LA267

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - dirt bank/rising embankment (contributing factor)

## Analysis

PLT STATED THAT FOLLOWING A HARD LANDING, DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST. ACFT DEPARTED RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH DIRT BERM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7346D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7346D-2013-02-21), registration cancelled 2013-02-21, S/N 22-5135, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-150
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (registry code 7102210) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-5496
- Airframe hours: 2171
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A1A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Gregory Wittaker
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 8, 1984, 11 hours before
- Airport: O1V, Aurora Airpark, runway 14, 5,000 × 40 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 25 total, 13 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F

## 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 19840825046509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840825046509A), Aug 25, 1984: Piper PA22150, Aurora, CO, Substantial damage. Pilot landed hard and bounced. The aircraft ran off the left side of the runway, hit a dirt berm, and nosed over.

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.
