# NTSB FTW95FA222: Piper PA-28-180, N55114, Byers, CO, May 30, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: May 29, 1995, 21:15 local (May 30, 1995, 03:15 UTC) - Place: Byers, CO - Coordinates: 39.70943, -104.219825 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7094&lon=-104.2198&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 4 fatal - Status: Completed, report October 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19226 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95FA222 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19226/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95FA222 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND THE SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS WERE THE LOW CEILINGS, THE DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL INSTRUMENT TIME. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - light condition - night (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, cruise - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PRIVATE PILOT ENTERED IMC WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT NIGHT. THE PILOT HAD ACCUMULATED A TOTAL OF 4 HOURS OF SIMULATED INSTRUMENT TIME. THE PILOT RECEIVED A COMPLETE WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO DEPARTING. VFR FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED WITHIN 200 MILES OF HIS DESTINATION DUE TO LOW CEILINGS AND POOR VISIBILITIES. THE PILOT UPDATED THE WEATHER AT HIS TWO REFUELING STOPS. WRECKAGE WAS FOUND IN A WHEAT FIELD SCATTERED OVER 283 FEET ON A HEADING OF 305 DEGREES. THE INBOUND COURSE FROM THE POINT OF DEPARTURE WOULD HAVE BEEN 208 DEGREES. THE PILOT TOLD AN FBO MANAGER THAT HE PLANNED TO STOP SHORT OF THE INSTRUMENT CONDITIONS AND WAIT FOR WEATHER CONDITIONS TO IMPROVE. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED 40 NM BEYOND HIS INTENDED STOPPING POINT. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 29, 1995, at 2115 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28- 180, N55114, was destroyed upon impact with the ground following a loss of control near Byers, Colorado. The non-instrument rated private pilot and his three passengers were fatally injured. The flight departed Alliance, Nebraska. Instrument meteorological condition prevailed throughout the area for the personal night cross country flight for which no flight plan was filed. The pilot originated his trip from Linton, North Dakota, at 1730. Prior to his departure, the pilot received a telephonic weather briefing at 1029 from the Grand Forks AFSS. The pilot was briefed on the forecasted conditions for his destination and told that VFR was not recommended. The airplane made two scheduled refueling stops on the return trip to the Meadow Lake Airport, near Falcon, Colorado. The first refueling stop was made at 1750 at the Mobridge Municipal Airport, near Mobridge, South Dakota, which is approximately 40 miles from the point of departure. The airport manager stated that the airplane was topped off with 48.2 gallons of 100LL fuel (Aircraft fuel capacity is 48.0 gallons). The airport manager further stated that the airport at Linton, North Dakota, was unattended and did not have any refueling services. The second stop was made at 1915 at the Alliance Airport, near Alliance, Nebraska. The airplane was again topped off with 30 gallons of 100LL fuel and the pilot updated his weather. The weather for Colorado Springs at 1910 (0110Z) was reported by Pan Am Systems as a measured ceiling of 400 foot broken, with visibility of 2 1/2 miles in light rain and fog, and a weather pictorial of the area showed low ceilings and restricted visibilities prevailed for his intended route of flight beyond Akron, Colorado. The pilot told the FBO manager that he only intended to go as far as Akron, and wait for the weather conditions to improve. The airplane departed at approximately 2000. The wreckage was located 40 nautical miles beyond Akron, on the Akron VOR 208 degree radial. There were no reported eyewitnesses to the accident. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The private pilot earned his private certificate on November 6, 1993. He had accumulated a total of 4 hours of simulated instrument time. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The airplane was equipped for flights in IMC. An estimate of the weight of the airplane at the time of the accident places the airplane within its limits. Examination of the airplane and engine at the accident site did not disclose any mechanical problems. A review of the airframe and engine records by the FAA inspector did not reveal any anomalies or uncorrected maintenance defects prior to the flight. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION IFR conditions were forecasted and present on the east side of the Rocky Mountains from Pueblo to Denver due to upslope conditions caused by a high pressure area in southwestern Nebraska. The weather for Colorado Springs at 2056 was reported as a measured ceiling of 400 foot overcast, with 3 miles in fog. Local residents in the vicinity of the accident reported ceilings as low as 200 feet and visibilities below 2 miles in fog and light drizzle. Surface observations for the affected area at the time of the accident are enclosed. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The scattered wreckage of the airplane was located on a wheat field by units of the Civil Air Patrol 2 days after the accident, approximately 65 miles northeast of its intended destination. Ground imprints corresponding to the leading edges of the wings and engine were found at the initial point of impact. Fragments of green plastic, identified as portions of the wing tip navigational light for the right wing, were located at one end of the initial impact ground scar. The ground scar at the initial point of impact was aligned on a measured magnetic heading of 315 degrees. The inbound course to their destination was 208 degrees. The wreckage was found scattered for over 283 feet from the initial point of impact on a measured heading of 305 degrees. The main wreckage came to rest on a measured heading of 240 degrees, approximately 98 feet from the initial point of impact. The engine came to rest 95 feet beyond the main wreckage. The engine sustained impact damage with most accessories found separated from the engine. The crankshaft was rotated and continuity to the accessory gears was confirmed at the site. The propeller assembly was found separated from the engine at the propeller flange. Both propeller blades sustained S-type bending. See wreckage diagram for details of the wreckage distribution. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION An autopsy and toxicological tests were requested and performed. The autopsy was performed by Michael J. Dobersen, M.D., of the Arapahoe County Coroner's Office on June 1, 1995. Toxicological tests were negative. ADDITIONAL DATA The wreckage was released to the owners's representative at the accident site. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N55114](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N55114-1997-03-06), registration cancelled 1997-03-06, S/N 287305312 (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) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7305312 - Airframe hours: 4495 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Marks Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 17, 1995, 107 hours before - Departed: AIA, ALLIANCE, NE - Destination: 00V, FALCON, CO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 180 total, 50 in this make and model, 100 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 200 ft overcast ## 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 19950529049039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950529049039A), May 29, 1995: Piper PA28180, Byers, CO, Destroyed, 4 fatal. (-16) On may 29, 1995, at 2115 MDT, a Piper PA-28-180, N55114, was destroyed following loss of control near Byers, Colorado. The private pilot and his three… 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.