# NTSB DEN91FA111: Piper PA-32-300, N44641, Colorado Spring, CO, August 10, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 10, 1991, 06:40 local (12:40 UTC)
- Place: Colorado Spring, CO
- Coordinates: 38.820594, -104.700523 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8206&lon=-104.7005&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 5 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 8, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18030
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN91FA111
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18030/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN91FA111

## Probable cause

THE PILOT EXCEEDED WEIGHT AND BALANCE LIMITATIONS.  FACTORS WERE:  HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- Forced landing, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE COMMERCIAL RATED PILOT AND HIS FIVE PASSENGERS DEPARTED COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, ON A PROPOSED CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT TO ALABAMA.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO CLIMB TO 150 FEET VERY SLOWLY AND THEN LEVEL OFF. THE PILOT SAID IN A POSTACCIDENT INTERVIEW THAT THE AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT CLIMB OR ACCELERATE NORMALLY.  HE SAID AS THE AIRSPEED DETERIORATED, HE WAS FORCED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING TO UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.  THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE AIRCRAFT WAS 311 POUNDS OVER MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE GROSS WEIGHT.  DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS 7,500 FEET.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N44641](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44641-1994-07-22), registration cancelled 1994-07-22, S/N 327440165 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-7440165
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-KIA5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: John J. Wilda, doing business as Rocky Mountain Air, Inc.
- Registered owner: John J. Wilda
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Destination: 2A3, BESSEMER, AL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 15,000 total, 100 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °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 19910810033269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910810033269A), Aug 10, 1991: Piper PA32300, Colorado Spring, CO, Substantial damage. Unable to climb after takeoff forced to land. Struck embankment. Was 311LBS over gross at 7500 ft density altitude.

## Other investigations on N44641 (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 IAD75FKW16](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD75FKW16), May 13, 1975: Piper PA-32 (N44641), Sevierville, TN, 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.

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