# NTSB DEN90FA103: Piper PA-32C-300, N8912N, Leadville, CO, April 27, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 27, 1990, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Leadville, CO
- Coordinates: 39.239513, -106.290863 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2395&lon=-106.2909&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 15, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17830
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90FA103
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17830/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90FA103

## Probable cause

VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC) BY THE PILOT, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE FROM MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  THE TERRAIN AND WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS PERSONAL ABILITY, HIS PERCEIVED PRESSURE TO COMPLETE THE FLIGHT, AND HIS LACK OF INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - self-induced pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT RENTED N8912N TO TRANSPORT FIVE PASSENGERS TO COLORADO FOR A SINGING COMPETITION.  THE PASSENGERS HAD NOT MADE ALTERNATE TRAVEL PLANS.  THE PLT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING, WHICH INDICATED LOW CLOUD CEILINGS, MODERATE TURBULENCE AND ICING ALONG HIS PLANNED ROUTE.  HE FILED 10,500 FT AS HIS CRUISING ALT.  SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A 13,700 FT HIGH MOUNTAIN AT ABOUT THE 12,000 FT LEVEL.  WEATHER AT THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS IFR.  THE PLT WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8912N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8912N-1992-02-10), registration cancelled 1992-02-10, S/N 3240701 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32C-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-40701
- Airframe hours: 5101
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1A5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Wilson G. Henderson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 1990, 17 hours before
- Departed: SLC, SALT LAKE CITY, UT
- Destination: COS, COLORADO SPRING, CO
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 392 total, 24 in this make and model, 366 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Observed at: LXV, 8 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 19900427012109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900427012109A), Apr 27, 1990: Piper PA32300, Leadville, CO, Destroyed, 6 fatal. Flew into side of cloud obscured mountain at 12 thousand feet. Planned VFR at 10 thousand. Moca was 15 thousand.

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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