# NTSB FTW94LA280: Piper PA-28-180, N5372T, Trinidad, CO, August 28, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 28, 1994, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Trinidad, CO - Location: 37.1762° N, 104.4903° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Trinidad, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1762&lon=-104.4903&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 5, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19147 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA280 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19147/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA280 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN TERRAIN CLEARANCE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - buzzing - performed, pilot in command - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis WHILE ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT MADE SEVERAL LOW PASSES IN THE AREA WHERE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. ONE LOW PASS RESULTED IN A TOUCHDOWN WITH WHEEL MARKS EXTENDING FOR 450 FEET FOLLOWED BY COLLISION WITH A FENCE. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST BEYOND THE FENCE. ## Factual narrative On August 28, 1994, between 0950 and 1300 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N5372T, sustained substantial damage while maneuvering near Trinidad, Colorado. The pilot received no injuries and his passenger serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this cross country flight and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated in Garden City, Kansas, with a planned destination of San Diego, California. The lack of definition regarding the time of the accident is due to differences in what the pilot reported, witnesses observation, and the approximate time a "MAY DAY" was heard over flight watch frequency. The pilot said the accident occurred at 0950. According to the flight watch call, the accident occurred about 1130, and according to eyewitnesses, the accident occurred about 1300. The departure time from Garden City, could not be confirmed. According to the pilot, he had the fuel tanks filled to the tabs prior to departure from Garden City. The FAA inspector who examined the wreckage stated that the left tank was about 1/3 full and the right tank about 1/2 full. In the attached pilot operator report of the accident, the pilot said he lost a small amount of power and was attempting to clear high terrain when the student pilot flying with him pulled back on the controls and stalled the aircraft. In a written statement, which is attached, a witness said the aircraft made several low passes around the area of the accident and at one point the pilot "smiled and waved to them." According to the witness, while the aircraft was making low passes and just prior to impact, something white came off the aircraft. The witness, who is a private pilot, said that there was no discernable power loss. Examination of the aircraft, including the engine, provided no evidence of mechanical failure or malfunction and the only item missing was a wheel skirt off the nose wheel. According to the FAA inspector who examined the accident site, there were wheel marks for about 450 feet following initial ground contact followed by impact witness marks on a barb wire fence. This person stated that it appeared the aircraft had attempted a landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5372T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5372T-2014-12-17), registration cancelled 2014-12-17, S/N 28-7205262, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7205262 - Airframe hours: 5200 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: In-Flight - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Scott, Adrian J. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 30, 1994, 32 hours before - Departed: GCK, GARDEN CITY, KS - Destination: MYF, SAN DIEGO, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; seat: right; flight hours: 1,617 total, 270 in this make and model, 1,505 as pilot in command, 219 in the last 90 days, 79 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 19940828024029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940828024029A), Aug 28, 1994: Piper PA28180, Trinidad, CO, Substantial damage. Low passes over area. Touched down and collided with a fence. Lost nose wheel skirt. 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.