FTW02FA222

Approximately 19 nm northwest of the departure airport (elevation 6,535 feet), the airplane impacted the rising mountainous terrain at an elevation of 10,050 feet. Prior to departure, the pilot calculated the airplane's gross weight to be approximately 2,270 pounds (maximum gross weight 2,400). After a takeoff roll of approximately 5,000 feet, the airplane departed the runway, and the pilot executed a right turn toward the rising terrain. Approximately 5 minutes into the flight, the right front seat passenger commented to the pilot that "we're going kinda low." The pilot stated that after climbing about 10 to 15 minutes up a valley, he noticed that the vertical climb rate had decreased to about 100-200 feet per minute, which was half the climb rate that he expected at full throttle power. During the impact with the terrain, the fuel tanks ruptured and the airplane was destroyed by a post-impact fire. The engine was test run according to the manufacturer specifications. No discrepancies or anomalies were noted during the engine test run that would indicate the engine was not capable of operating and producing power prior to the accident. No anomalies or discrepancies were noted with the airframe. The density altitude at the accident site was calculated to be approximately 12,000 feet.

History of flight

On August 1, 2002, approximately 0855 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180 airplane, N6444J, impacted the terrain while maneuvering near Gypsum, Colorado. The private pilot and one passenger sustained serious injuries and two passengers sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the Glenwood Flyers L.L.C. of Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight departed the Eagle Regional Airport (EGE), Eagle, Colorado, approximately 0840, and was destined for Idaho Falls, Idaho.

According to the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot reported he departed the Glenwood Springs Municipal airport approximately 0700 en route to EGE, as the sole occupant of the airplane for that flight. The pilot reported the visibility was good; however, the flight encountered soot and smoke-haze from forest fires in the area. At 0715, the flight landed at EGE, and the pilot instructed a refueler at the fixed based operator (FBO) to "fill the tanks to the tabs."

Prior to departing EGE for Idaho Falls, the pilot performed a "standard pre-flight and weight and balance checks." The pilot reported the "plane's gross weight was approximately 2,270 pounds. The certified maximum gross weight is 2,400 pounds." At 0830, the luggage was stowed, and the pilot and the three passengers boarded the airplane. The luggage consisted of a back pack, a lap top computer, and four other pieces of the luggage. The pilot completed a flight plan, and "per the flight plan, the planned cruising speed was 85 [miles per hour] mph, with a planned climb rate of about 300-400 feet per minute. The plan called for a climb to a cruising altitude of 12,500 feet."

The airplane departed EGE runway 25, which is 8,000 feet in length, and the pilot then turned to a heading of 296 degrees due to hot air balloon activity south of the airport. After departure, the pilot contacted the Denver flight service station (FSS) and activated the VFR flight plan. The pilot reported that "after climbing about 10 to 15 minutes heading about 290 [degrees] up a valley I noticed that the vertical climb rate had decreased to about 100-200 feet per minute, half the climb rate that was expected at full power. The pilot added that the aircraft seemed not to be performing with the power that should be expected at full throttle." The pilot did not recall any events immediately preceding or following the impact with the terrain.

In a telephone interview with the surviving female passenger conducted by the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), the passenger, who was seated in the right front seat, reported approximately 5 minutes into the flight, she commented to the pilot that "we're going kinda low." The pilot responded that the "[vertical speed indicator] was at 1, [it] should have been at 6." Approximately 10 minutes later into the flight, the passenger noticed that the airplane was close to the tree tops, and felt like the airplane struck a tree top. The passenger looked at the windscreen, saw a plateau in front of the airplane, and thought "was [the pilot] trying to land the airplane...we're going down." The airplane impacted the terrain, became airborne again and possibly spinning, struck the ground again, and "everything kind of exploded." She reported that during the flight, the pilot did not mention any problems with the airplane or engine. The accident flight was the first flight the passenger flew with the pilot.

A flight instructor, who departed with a student pilot in an airplane from EGE behind the accident airplane, reported that the pilot and his passengers departed runway 25. The instructor stated the accident airplane's takeoff roll, prior to rotation, was approximately 5,000 feet in length. The accident airplane departed the runway and turned to an estimated 305-degree magnetic heading toward the rising terrain. The flight instructor and student then departed runway 25 and executed a climbing 270-degree turn to the left, which was the recommended VFR departure pattern due to a noise abatement policy over the town of Gypsum. The instructor commented to the student that he did not feel the accident airplane would clear the rising terrain. The instructor was able to maintain visual contact with the accident airplane from departure to the Sweetwater Lake area. The flight instructor stated that the accident airplane altitude was 200-300 feet agl during his observation of the flight.

After the accident, the flight instructor visited the passenger in the hospital. The passenger stated to the flight instructor that the pilot mentioned "that in the flight from Glenwood Springs to Eagle (earlier) he had been climbing at 600 feet per minute but that now they were only climbing at 100 feet per minute. [The pilot] said that it would not be a problem because they would just continue toward the higher terrain and find some updrafts."

Local authorities received a 9-1-1 call from the Sweetwater Resort approximately 1200. Two ranchers on horseback located the pilot who had left the airplane to search for assistance. A helicopter from the Colorado Army National Guard located the accident site approximately 1235, and then transported the two surviving passengers and the pilot to a medical facility. The wreckage was located 19 nautical miles northwest of EGE at latitude 39 degrees 48 minutes North, and longitude 107 degrees 16 minutes West, and at an elevation of approximately 10,050 feet msl. The Colorado Army National Guard flightcrew reported the sky clear and temperature 72 degrees Fahrenheit.

Personnel information

The pilot received his private pilot certificate, with an airplane single-engine land rating, on December 4, 2000. The pilot was issued a third-class medical certificate on June 12, 2002, with no restrictions or limitations. According to the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot reported he had accumulated approximately 260 total flight hours with 50 flight hours in the accident airplane make and model. The pilot's most recent biennial flight review was conducted in December, 2002. The pilot's logbook was destroyed by the post-impact fire.

Aircraft information

The 1968-model Piper PA-28-180, serial number 28-4862, was a single-engine, low wing, fixed landing gear, semi-monocoque design airplane. The airplane was powered by a four cylinder, air-cooled, horizontally opposed, normally aspirated Lycoming O-360-A4A (serial number L-12490-36A) engine, rated at 180 horsepower. The airplane was configured to carry a maximum of four occupants.

The airplane was issued a standard airworthiness certificate on April 4, 1968, and was certificated for normal category operations. The airplane's current registration was issued on August 30, 2000. A review of the airframe logbooks revealed that the airframe underwent its most recent annual inspection on November 9, 2001, at a total airframe time of 2,755.25 hours and a tachometer time of 1,530.15 hours. There were no subsequent entries in the airframe logbook. A review of the engine logbook revealed that the engine underwent its most recent 100-hour inspection on November 9, 2001, at a total engine time since new of 2,755.25 hours, and at a tachometer time of 1530.15 hours. On July 21, 2002, the engine underwent an oil and filter change, at a tachometer time of 1,777.02 hours. The total airframe and engine times at the time of the accident could not be determined.

The most recent airplane weight and balance was calculated on February 20, 1989. The airplane's basic empty weight and center of gravity (CG) were 1,364.9 pounds (lbs) and 85.39 inches, respectively. According to the approved aircraft flight manual, the maximum allowable gross weight for the acciden