# NTSB DEN85FA214: Piper PA-60-600, N3643R, Denver, CO, August 11, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 10, 1985, 19:47 local (Aug 11, 1985, 01:47 UTC)
- Place: Denver, CO
- Coordinates: 39.740779, -104.859352 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7408&lon=-104.8594&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 3 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16551
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85FA214
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16551/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85FA214

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - company-induced pressure, pilot in command (cause)
  - wind information - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency

## Analysis

PILOT IN COMMAND STATED THAT HE WAITED APRX 90 SECONDS AFTER A B-727 DEPARTED ON RWY 8R DUE TO POSSIBLE WAKE TURBULENCE. PLT CONTINUED TO STATE THAT HE USED A SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF PROCEDURE TO CLIMB ABOVE THE FLT PATH OF THE B-727. HE STATED THAT DURING CLIMBOUT N3643R BEGAN AN UNCOMMANDED ROLL TO THE LEFT AT APRX 600 FEET. THE PLT REGAINED ROLL CONTROL JUST PIROR TO GROUND IMPACT. THE PIPER AEROSTAR IS CERTIFICATED WITHOUT A STALL WARNING DEVICE. THE WIND AT STAPLETON ARPT AT THE TIME N3643R TOOKOFF WAS 170 DEGREES AT 20 KTS WITH GUSTS TO 28 KTS. ACCORDING TO THE PLT OPERATING HANDBOOK, THE DEMONSTRATED CROSSWIND COMPONENT IS 15 KNTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3643R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3643R-2014-10-06), registration cancelled 2014-10-06, S/N 6008378161240, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-60-600
- Registry model: [Piper AEROSTAR 600](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-aerostar-600) (registry code 7106001) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 600837816124
- Airframe hours: 1040
- Engines: AVCO LYCOMING IO-540-K1J5 290 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Oklahoma Jet Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 1986, 95 hours before
- Departed: DEN
- Destination: HO1, CHANDLER, OK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: DEN, Stapleton Intn'T, runway 8R, 10,010 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,529 total, 97 in this make and model, 1,347 as pilot in command, 259 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 20 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DEN

## 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 19850810041699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850810041699A), Aug 10, 1985: Piper PA60600, Denver, CO, Destroyed. Stalled while attempting to climb to avoid 727 turbulence. Aircraft was overgross. Burned on impact.

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.
