# NTSB DEN87FA220: Fairchild PT-23, N64038, Englewood, CO, August 16, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 16, 1987, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Englewood, CO
- Coordinates: 39.68914, -104.810623 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6891&lon=-104.8106&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17126
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN87FA220
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17126/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87FA220

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - maneuver - attempted
  - stall/mush
  - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT & PAX WERE FLYING TO CHEYENNE, WY TO PUT N64038 ON STATIC DISPLAY. THE PLT STATED THE ENG LOST PWR DRG CLIMB- OUT AT APRX 300' AGL. HE WAS UNABLE TO RESTORE PWR & MANEUVERED FOR AN OFF ARPT LANDING. A WITNESS STATED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF, N64038 LVLD OFF AT APRX 200' & DID NOT APPEAR TO ACCELERATE. HE STATED THE ACFT BEGAN TO SETTLE TO THE GND APRX 1.5 MI FROM THE ARPT. DRG HIS OBSERVATION, HE SAW THE ACFT IN A SHALLOW TURN FOR ABOUT 90 DEG, THEN SAW THE RGT WING MAKE AN ABRUPT DIP. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT STRUCK THE BANK OF A ROAD CUT IN A RGT WING LOW, NOSE HI ATTITUDE & WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FND DRG THE INVESTIGATION. THE DENSITY ALT WAS CALCULATED TO BE 7767'.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N64038](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N64038-1989-09-13), registration cancelled 1989-09-13, S/N 2733AE (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: FAIRCHILD PT-23
- Registry model: [Fairchild M-62C(PT-23A)](https://openairdocs.org/model/fairchild-m-62c-pt-23a) (registry code 3371630) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2733AE
- Airframe hours: 3559
- Engines: CONTINENTAL R-670-16 220 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Confederate Air Force
- Registered owner: Confederate Air Force
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 2, 1987, 78 hours before
- Departed: APA
- Destination: CHY, CHEYENNE, WY
- Airport: Centennial, runway 10, 4,903 × 62 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 258 total, 48 in this make and model, 152 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: APA, 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19870816050569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870816050569A), Aug 16, 1987: Frchld M62C, Denver, CO, Destroyed. Lost power on climbout. Settled back to the ground. Struck a dirt embankment. Came to rest inverted.

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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