# NTSB DEN88DTE03: Piper PA-25-235, N9569P, Akron, CO, April 25, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: April 25, 1988, 14:25 local (20:25 UTC)
- Place: Akron, CO
- Coordinates: 40.160182, -103.209548 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1602&lon=-103.2095&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 28, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17327
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88DTE03
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17327/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88DTE03

## 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
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT SAID THE WIND WAS FROM 200 DEGREES AT 10 KTS, AS HE BEGAN HIS TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 13. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT REACHED 20-30 FEET AGL IT BEGAN TO SINK AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. THE PILOT SAID HE THOUGHT HE ENCOUNTERED A WIND SHEAR OR CHANGE OF WIND DIRECTION WHICH RESULTED IN THE SINK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9569P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9569P-1993-12-30), registration cancelled 1993-12-30, S/N 257405680 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-25-235
- Registry model: [Piper PA-25-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-235) (registry code 7102504) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 257405680
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 137
- Operator: Thornton Flying Service
- Registered owner: Thompson, Ruth
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 30, 1987, 310 hours before
- Departed: AKO
- Destination: NONE, WIGGINS, CO
- Airport: ADO, Akron-Washington County, runway 13, 1,950 × 55 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 5,632 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 5,600 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 10 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19880425009959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880425009959A), Apr 25, 1988: Piper PA25235, Akron, CO, Substantial damage. Pilot reported wind shear and direction change on intial climbout caused aircraft to sink and strike the ground.

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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