# NTSB DEN93LA034: Piper PA-32-300, N4245R, Las Animas, CO, March 21, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 21, 1993, 11:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place: Las Animas, CO
- Location: 38.0540° N, 103.2385° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at CITY OF LAS ANIMAS - BENT COUNTY (7V9), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0540&lon=-103.2385&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 2 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 25, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18276
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN93LA034
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18276/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN93LA034

## Probable cause

FAILURE BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.  A FACTOR WAS:  WIND GUSTS.

## Analysis

WHILE CONDUCTING A VISUAL APPROACH TO LAND, FOLLOWING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT WAS STRUCK BY A GUST OF WIND AND DRIFTED OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY.  THE PILOT INITIATED A GO AROUND AND THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A MOUND OF DIRT BESIDE THE RUNWAY.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4245R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4245R-1995-08-25), registration cancelled 1995-08-25, S/N 3240611 (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: 32-40611
- Airframe hours: 3200
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1A5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Long, William L. And Nancy A.
- Registered owner: Long, William L. And Nancy A.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 29, 1992, 107 hours before
- Departed: CNM, CARLSBAD, NM
- Airport: 7V9, Bent County, runway 8, 3,800 × 40 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 580 total, 135 in this make and model, 540 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °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 19930321005769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930321005769A), Mar 21, 1993: Piper PA32300, Las Animas, CO, Substantial damage. Wind gust blew aircraft to edge of runway on flare. Began belated go around but impacted dirt mound off runway.

## Other investigations on N4245R (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX72AL032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX72AL032), Nov 5, 1971: Piper PA-32 (N4245R), Ventura, CA, substantial damage

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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