# NTSB FTW96LA090: Piper PA-28-181, N2132J, Collbran, CO, January 12, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 12, 1996, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Collbran, CO - Coordinates: 39.230049, -107.949684 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2300&lon=-107.9497&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 9, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19739 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA090 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19739/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA090 ## Probable cause The pilot's intentional flight at low altitude, which resulted in inadequate terrain clearance to compensate for a downdraft. The downdraft was a related factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Altitude deviation,uncontrolled, maneuvering - low altitude flight/maneuver - intentional, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - altitude/clearance - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - water,frozen - terrain condition - snow covered - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment ## Analysis The airplane crossed a mountain ridge, flew into a canyon, and encountered 'a very fast rate of descent.' According to the pilot, the airplane descended below tree tops near a frozen lake. The pilot believed the airplane would not clear the trees ahead and elected to land on the lake. The airplane slid across the surface of the lake and up the opposite embankment, shearing off the right main landing gear. ## Factual narrative On January 12, 1996, approximately 1230 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-181, N2132J, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Collbran, Colorado. The commercial pilot and one passenger were not injured, but another passenger sustained a minor injury. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91, and a company VFR flight plan was filed. The airplane operated by Larry G. Kempton, Jr., d/b/a Kempton Air Service According to the pilot, one of the passengers said he wanted to take a flight lesson and take some aerial photographs. They departed and flew to the Grand Mesa, about 25 miles east of Grand Junction. The airplane was at 10,000 feet msl (mean sea level) when the pilot crossed a ridge and entered the Courier Lake Canyon. He said he encountered "a very fast rate of descent" and the airplane descended below the tree tops bordering the frozen lake. The pilot decided the airplane would not clear the trees ahead and elected to land on the lake. The airplane slid across the surface and up the opposite embankment, shearing off the right landing gear. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2132J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2132J), registered now, S/N 28-7990216, built 1978 (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: 28-7990216 - Airframe hours: 3110 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Larry G. Kempton, Jr. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 29, 1995, 7 hours before - Departed: GJT, GRAND JUNCTION, CO - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 4,879 total, 184 in this make and model, 4,652 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 5 knots - Visibility: 90 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GJT, 25 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 19960112000469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960112000469A), Jan 12, 1996: Piper PA28181, Collbran, CO, Substantial damage. Encountered severe downdraft in canyon. Unable clear trees landed on frozen lake. Slid on ice up an embankment. 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.