- Date
- November 16, 1985, 08:45 local (15:45 UTC)
- Place
- Ft. Collins, CO
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2601GPiper PA-38-112
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19851116058139A
- Case key
- 16886
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Analysis
The acft collided with large chunks of snow on the rwy during takeoff roll. The plt stated that during the roll about mid-way down the rwy he spotted the snow and decided to abort but was unable to avoid the snow. The left gear contacted the snow and the acft veered left contacting a snow berm. The left main gear then collapsed.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
On ground/water encounter with terrain/water
Airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow coveredFactor
Unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selectedCause
Airport snow removal - poorCause
Loss of control - on ground/water
Aborted takeoff - attempted
Directional control - not maintainedCause
Ground loop/swerve - uncontrolledCause
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2601G
- Reported as
- Piper PA-38-112
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 79A0566
- Airframe hours
- 1,959
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-L2C, 112 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Mt. Flyers Aero Club
- Registered owner
- Phillip P. Murphy
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · October 10, 1985 · 19 hours before
- Airport
- 3V5 · Dwntwn Ft Collins Airpark, runway 29, 4,700 × 48 ft, snow
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 28
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 118 total · 41 in this make and model · 78 as pilot in command · 11 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 348° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 69 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 28 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Observed at
- FCL, 2 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.