# NTSB DEN88LA079: Piper PA-28RT-201T, N2904C, Aurora, CO, February 21, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 21, 1988, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Aurora, CO
- Location: 39.7294° N, 104.8319° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Aurora, CO, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7294&lon=-104.8319&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 30, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17456
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88LA079
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17456/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88LA079

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,main gear - overload
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,nose gear - collapsed (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2904C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2904C), registered now, S/N 28R-7931250 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28RT-201T (PA-28RT-20)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28RT-201T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28rt-201t) (registry code 7102817) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28R-7931250
- Airframe hours: 2002
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-FB 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Larry G. Kempton, Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 26, 1988, 27 hours before
- Departed: GWS, GLENWOOD SPRG, CO
- Destination: O1V
- Airport: O1V, Aurora, runway 32, 5,000 × 40 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 1,752 total, 16 in this make and model, 1,708 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 10 knots
- 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 19880221003159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880221003159A), Feb 21, 1988: Piper PA28RT201T, Aurora, CO, Substantial damage. Made hard landing. Impact collapsed the right main and nose gear.

## Other investigations on N2904C (1)

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.

- [NTSB DEN03LA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA014), Nov 6, 2002: Piper PA-28RT (N2904C), Grand Junction, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: the collapse of the left main landing gear during landing roll resulting in loss of control/ground loop/swerve and subsequent impact with a sign. Contributing factors include, the airplane's total…

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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