# NTSB DEN99LA101: Piper PA-28-140, N7556R, Grand Junction, CO, June 12, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 12, 1999, 15:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Grand Junction, CO - Coordinates: 39.030757, -108.430015 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0308&lon=-108.4300&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 12, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46519 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN99LA101 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46519/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA101 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparation for the runway and the environment in which he intended to fly. Factors were high-density altitude and a dirt runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - soft (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - performance data - exceeded, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis While on takeoff roll from a 2,250 foot long private air strip the aircraft became airborne then settled back to the ground off the end of the departure runway. The runway was dirt surface and the pilot was making his takeoff to the east. Wind at the time was from 290 degrees at 10 knots with gusts to 17 knots. Aircraft performance data provided information that the aircraft was within 70 pounds of its maximum certificated gross weight and that the takeoff chart upper limit was 7,000 foot density altitude. The actual density altitude was 7,700 feet. According to the chart, which was based on a hard surface runway, no wind, and the aircraft at maximum certificated gross weight, the takeoff roll should have been 1,750 feet. The chart also stated that extending the curves above the 7,000 foot upper limit was not permissible. The pilot said he thought he encountered a wind shear during rotation. ## Factual narrative On June 12, 1999, at 1545 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, sustained substantial damage when it settled to the ground following takeoff from a private airstrip located approximately 4 miles northwest of Grand Junction, Colorado. The commercial pilot/flight instructor and his private pilot certificated passenger were not injured. The flight was operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. In a telephone interview, and in the written section of the Pilot Operator Report Form, the pilot said he had a left crosswind of 8 to 10 knots and that as the aircraft became airborne he encountered a wind shear causing the aircraft to settle back to the ground off the end of the runway. Airport elevation was 4,500 feet pressure altitude and the density altitude was calculated to be 7,700 feet. The runway was listed at 2,250 feet in length with a dirt surface. Runway slope was unknown. According to the National Weather Service observation at Walker Field, the Grand Junction Municipal Airport, located approximately 4 miles from the private airport, wind at the time was from 290 degrees at 10 knots with gusts to 17 knots. The pilot said he took off to the east. According to performance information in the flight manual, the maximum certificated gross weight of the aircraft is 2,150 pounds. According to Federal Aviation Administration information on the occupants, the combined weight of the people was 370 pounds. The pilot said he had 20 gallons of fuel aboard which weighed 120 pounds and the operating empty weight was 1,650 pounds. Thus the calculated weight of the aircraft at takeoff was 2,080 pounds, 70 pounds below the maximum certificated gross weight. Aircraft performance data also provided information that the take off roll chart does not extend above 7,000 feet density altitude and at that altitude, based on a hard surface runway, no slope, and no wind, the takeoff distance to rotation was 1,750 feet at the maximum certificated gross weight of the aircraft. A warning on the chart stated that extending performance curves off the chart above the maximum altitude was not permissible. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7556R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7556R-2000-01-31), registration cancelled 2000-01-31, S/N 28-22119 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-22119 - Airframe hours: 3068 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-32A 140 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jeffrey W. Wood - Registered owner: Manuel Torres - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 1999, 1 hours before - Departed: N/A - Airport: (Private Strip Not Named), runway 9, 2,250 × 50 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 601 total, 1 in this make and model, 511 as pilot in command, 118 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 10 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GJT ## 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 19990612047299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990612047299A), Jun 12, 1999: Piper PA28140, Grandjunction, CO, Substantial damage. (.4) While on takeoff roll from a 2,250 foot long Private air strip the aircraft became airborne then settled back to the ground off the end of the departure… 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.