# NTSB FTW95LA366: Piper PA-28-181, N5448F, Fort Collins, CO, August 28, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 27, 1995, 20:15 local (Aug 28, 1995, 02:15 UTC) - Place: Fort Collins, CO - Coordinates: 40.650413, -105.029769 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6504&lon=-105.0298&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19558 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA366 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19558/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA366 ## Probable cause FAILURE BY THE PILOT TO PROPERLY PLAN HIS FLIGHT AND CHECK NOTAMS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. A FACTOR WAS OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE RUNWAY CONSTRUCTION ZONE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - other (contributing factor) - runway maintenance - encountered, pilot in command (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis DURING LANDING AT THE COMPLETION OF A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE PILOT WAS UNAWARE THAT THE FIRST 4,000 FEET OF THE 8,500 FOOT LONG RUNWAY WAS CLOSED FOR REPAVING. TOUCH DOWN WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,300 FEET INTO THE CONSTRUCTION ZONE WHICH CONTAINED OBSTRUCTIONS. DURING LANDING ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE OBSTRUCTIONS AND CAME TO REST OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. WEATHER WAS A CLEAR, DARK NIGHT; HOWEVER, THE RUNWAY WAS PROPERLY MARKED AND NOTAMS HAD BEEN ISSUED. THE PILOT SAID HE DID NOT CHECK NOTAMS FOR THE AIRPORT. ## Factual narrative On August 27, 1995, at 2015 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA- 28-181, N5448F, landed in a runway construction zone at Fort Collins/Loveland Airport, Fort Collins, Colorado. The private pilot was not injured and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The accident occurred on runway 33, of which the first 4,000 feet of the 8,500 foot runway was closed for repaving. Investigation revealed the construction zone was properly marked and NOTAMs (Notice To Airmen) were on file regarding the partial closure. The pilot stated he did not check NOTAMs because he "flies to Fort Collins frequently." A copy of affecting NOTAMs and an airport diagram are attached. The pilot stated that he saw dim runway lights and what he thought was a VASI (visual approach slope indicator) as he approached runway 33. He stated that he touched down "a few hundred feet past that." Witness marks indicated the touch down point was approximately 2,300 feet into the construction zone in an area where the asphalt had been peeled and steel guide rods for the paving equipment had been driven along the centerline. These rods were approximately 25 feet apart, three quarters of an inch in diameter and protruded from the ground about 30 inches. According to the ground scar, touch down was four feet left of centerline and drifted from left to right through the centerline. The aircraft came to rest off the right side off the runway about 500 feet from the end of the construction zone and the temporary threshold lights. Damage to the aircraft consisted of slices in the lower surface of the right wing and right flap, compression damage to the outer left wing, slices in the lower cowl, a piece broken out of one propeller blade, and damage to the right main landing gear. The landing gear damage occurred when the aircraft hit a lip in the peeled asphalt. Attached is a damage diagram. During the investigation, the runway lights and VASI were checked. The VASI was off and the runway lights in the construction zone were covered and not visible at night. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5448F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5448F), registered now, S/N 28-7790124, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (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: 28-7790124 - Airframe hours: 2352 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ten High Glyers, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 3, 1994, 460 hours before - Departed: BJC, BROOMFIELD, CO - Destination: FNL - Airport: FNL, Fort Collins/Loveland, runway 33, 8,500 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 738 total, 114 in this make and model, 738 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 20° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FNL, 1 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19950827048999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950827048999A), Aug 27, 1995: Piper PA28181, Loveland, CO, Substantial damage. (-16) Pilot landed in a runway construction zone closed by NOTAM at night. Damaged right main gear, wing and flap. 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.