- Date
- July 15, 1990, 10:05 local (15:05 UTC)
- Place
- Garfield, CO
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N8102CPiper PA-28-161
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 2, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900715025649A
- Case key
- 23029
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to fly into the mountain pass and the subsequent inability to maintain adequate ground clearance.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Witnesses observed the airplane 1/2 mile away from monarch pass, flying toward the pass. They said it passed under high valtage power lines that were across the valley, flying just above the trees. It started a nose high right turn. Then abruptly turned left, and dropped nose down toward the trees. It impacted at 10,800 feet MSL. Density altitude was calculated at 13,200 feet. Monarch pass is 11,312 feet MSL. The gross weight and the CG were within limits. No pre-impact problems could be found with the airplane or engine.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8102C
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-161
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-806100
- Airframe hours
- 4,804
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D3G, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Russell I. Erickson
- Registered owner
- Nevmann, Rory O & Desiree L
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 1, 1990 · 30 hours before
- Departed
- COS · Colorado Spring, CO
- Destination
- SAC · Sacramento, CA
- Airport
- NONE
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 58
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 817 total · 29 in this make and model · 729 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 310° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- COS, 70 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.