# NTSB DEN91LA004: Piper PA-30B, N85VL, Englewood, CO, October 6, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 6, 1990, 11:45 local (17:45 UTC)
- Place: Englewood, CO
- Coordinates: 39.680595, -104.960021 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6806&lon=-104.9600&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 8, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18046
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN91LA004
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18046/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN91LA004

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - oxygen system,portable - not secured (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight control,rudder - blocked(total) (cause)
  - directional control - not possible
- Gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

DURING LANDING ROLL, A PROTABLE OXYGEN BOTTLE STOWED UNDER THE PILOT'S SEAT SLID FORWARD AND JAMMED THE RUDDER PEDALS CAUSING A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE GEAR COLLAPSED CAUSING THE NOSE CONE TO BE CRUSHED AND THE RIGHT MAIN WING SPAR TO BE TWISTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N85VL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N85VL), registered now, S/N 30-1509, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30B
- Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1509
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Squires, Rodney
- Departed: SNA, SANTA ANA, CA
- Airport: APA, Centennial, runway 17, 10,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 231 total, 44 in this make and model, 168 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 5 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: APA, 1 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 19901006044409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901006044409A), Oct 6, 1990: Piper PA30, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. On landing roll portable oxygen bottle under seat rolled forward and jammed rudder pedals. Exited runway.

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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