# NTSB DEN91FA097: Piper PA-28-161, N8256R, Denver, CO, July 7, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 7, 1991, 09:20 local (15:20 UTC)
- Place: Denver, CO
- Coordinates: 39.689392, -104.90998 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6894&lon=-104.9100&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report August 13, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18027
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN91FA097
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18027/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN91FA097

## Probable cause

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: A TAIL WIND, THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY LEAN THE MIXTURE, AND HIS FAILURE TO USE ALL AVAILABLE RUNWAY.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, takeoff
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - mixture - improper use of, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - all available runway - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lowering of flaps - performed, pilot in command
  - aircraft performance,climb capability
  - proper climb rate - not attained
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE PILOT SELECTED 25 DEGREES OF FLAPS AND TOOK OFF ON RUNWAY 26L FROM INTERSECTION B5 (4465 FEET OF RUNWAY AVAILABLE, 10,004 FEET TOTAL LENGTH).  HE SAID THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED TO ABOUT 300 FEET AGL, THEN THE STALL WARNING HORN SOUNDED. WHEN HE LOWERED THE NOSE TO INCREASE AIRSPEED, THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED.  WHEN HE RAISED THE NOSE TO CHECK THE DESCENT, THE STALL WARNING HORN AGAIN SOUNDED.  THIS SITUATION CONTINUED UNTIL THE PILOT WAS FORCED TO MAKE A CONTROLLED CRASH INTO A TREE IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.  DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS COMPUTED TO BE 7181 FEET.  THE WINDS WERE FROM 010 DEGREES AT 21 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 30 KNOTS.  REPORTEDLY, THE PILOT ENRICHED THE MIXTURE BEFORE TAKING OFF, THEN CONFIRMED THE THROTTLE AND MIXTURE WERE 'FULLY OPEN' AFTER THE STALL WARNING HORN SOUNDED.  HE NOTED THAT THE TACHOMETER FOR THE FIXED PITCH PROPELLER WAS INDICATING 2400 RPM AT MAXIMUM POWER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8256R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8256R-1997-08-21), registration cancelled 1997-08-21, S/N 288116017 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8116017
- Airframe hours: 4328
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Nassau Flyers, Inc.
- Registered owner: Nassau Flyers, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 14, 1991, 52 hours before
- Destination: SAF, SANTA FE, NM
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: DEN, Stapleton International, runway 26L, 10,004 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 269 total, 48 in this make and model, 190 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 21 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19910707026409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910707026409A), Jul 7, 1991: Piper PA28161, Denver, CO, Destroyed. Unable to climb after takeoff in severe quartering tailwind. Engine sputtering. Mixture altitude and flaps factors.

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.