# NTSB DEN90LA025: Piper PA-28, N6385R, Steamboat Spgs, CO, November 25, 1989 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 25, 1989, 11:56 local (18:56 UTC) - Place: Steamboat Spgs, CO - Coordinates: 40.489616, -106.830642 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4896&lon=-106.8306&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 9, 1990 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 17869 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90LA025 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17869/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90LA025 ## Probable cause CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC) AND HIS DELAY IN DIVERTING OR REVERSING COURSE. THE TERRAIN, WEATHER CONDITIONS, WING ICE, AND TREES WERE CONSIDERED TO BE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS. ## 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 - fog (contributing factor) - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor) - wing - ice (contributing factor) - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) ## Analysis WHILE EN ROUTE FROM BELOIT, KS, TO STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO, THE PLT LANDED AT FORT MORGAN, CO, FOR FUEL. HE TELEPHONED THE DENVER AFSS TO OBTAIN A WX BRIEFING & WAS TOLD VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, AS HE APCHD BUFFALO PASS AT 11,500 FT MSL, HE ENCTRD 'A SUDDEN, STRONG DOWNDRAFT' & APPLICATION OF FULL POWER DID NOT ARREST THE SINK RATE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES AS THE PLT WAS TURNING AROUND. ACCORDING TO THE PASSENGER, IFR CONDITIONS WERE ENCTRD, THE ACFT BEGAN ACCUMULATING ICE & IT CRASHED DRG A TURN TO REVERSE DIRECTION. APRX 28 MI WEST AT HAYDEN (ELEV 6597'), THE 1050 MST WX WAS IN PART: SKY PARTIALLY OBSCD, 1000' SCATTERED, ESTD CEILING 3000' OVC, VIS 6 MI WITH LIGHT SNOW, WIND 250 DEG AT 7 KTS. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6385R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6385R-2013-04-29), registration cancelled 2013-04-29, S/N 28-21560, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-21560 - Airframe hours: 2260 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Mccosh, Joseph D. - Registered owner: Joseph D Mccosh - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 1, 1989, 42 hours before - Departed: 3V4, FORT MORGAN, CO - Destination: SBS, STEAMBOAT SPGS, CO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,065 total, 161 in this make and model, 1,001 as pilot in command, 190 in the last 90 days, 58 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Temperature: 19 °F ## 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 19891125046709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891125046709A), Nov 25, 1989: Piper PA28140, Steamboat Sprin, CO, Destroyed. Flew into mountain pass in IMC encountered severe downdraft. Tried to turn around. Hit trees. VFR not recommended. ## Other investigations on N6385R (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 DEN83LA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83LA020), Nov 15, 1982: Piper 28-140 (N6385R), Fort Collins, CO, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.