- Date
- March 16, 1994, 17:45 local (Mar 17, 1994, 00:45 UTC)
- Place
- Montrose, CO
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 2 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- CGUFKPiper PA-28-140B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 14, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 19014
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 failure to maintain 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
During takeoff the airplane did not climb rapidly enough to clear a ridge line. He recognized that he was not going to clear the rising terrain, 10 nautical miles from his departure point, so he elected to 'crash land' on the upslope. No anomalies were found on the aircraft.
Factual narrative
On March 16, 1994, at 1745 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28- 140B, Canadian registry NCGUFK, was destroyed while maneuvering near Montrose, Colorado. The private pilot sustained serious injuries and the two passengers sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight.
According to the passenger, upon taking off from Montrose County Airport, the aircraft did not gain altitude and impacted a ridge line. She further stated that the pilot recognized that the airplane would not clear the ridge line, so he decided to "crash land" the aircraft. The aircraft impacted the forward slope 150 feet below the crest. The ridge line was about 10 nautical miles from the departure point.
An examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies that would have prevented the airplane from climbing.
Repeated attempts to obtain a Pilot/Operator Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, were thwarted by the pilot's inability to complete it due to his injuries.
The aircraft was released to the owner.
Aircraft
- Registration
- CGUFK
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-140B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-25203
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Page, Daniele
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Destination
- PHX · Phoenix, AZ
- Flight plan
- VFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 37
- Certificates
- Foreign, Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 450 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 13 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MTJ, 10 nm away