# NTSB FTW96LA401: Piper PA28-151, N41369, Falcon, CO, September 25, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 24, 1996, 20:30 local (Sep 25, 1996, 02:30 UTC) - Place: Falcon, CO - Location: 38.9330° N, 104.6086° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Falcon, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9330&lon=-104.6086&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 18, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19989 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA401 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19989/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA401 ## Probable cause Failure by the pilot to select suitable terrain for landing. Factors were inadequate preflight planning and preparation for the flight by the pilot by failing to check NOTAMS and failing to use communication aids available to him. ## 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 - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - notams - not obtained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis After a night local area personal flight, the pilot was attempting to land at the airport of departure and could not turn on the runway lights by use of the UNICOM. He attempted to land without this aid and the landing was made in a ditch between the runway and taxiway. During landing roll the aircraft struck a culvert. The frequency for the UNICOM had been changed several weeks earlier and this change had been published in NOTAMS, and local air traffic control and flight service had the change published in controller instructions. No evidence was found that the pilot attempted to contact these facilities. Lighting and weather at the time was clear skies and dark night lighting. ## Factual narrative On September 24, 1996, at 2030 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA28-151, N41369, landed in a ditch between the runway and taxiway at Meadow Lake Airport (00V), Falcon, Colorado. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed Meadow Lake at 1930. The pilot stated that he could not activate the runway lights and was attempting to land without their aid. The touchdown was in a ditch beside the runway and the aircraft struck a culvert during landing roll causing damage to the propeller, engine cowling, left wing, and nose landing gear. At the time of the accident, weather and light conditions were clear skies with dark night lighting. The UNICOM frequency, by which the pilot can activate the lights from his aircraft, had been changed several weeks earlier and this change had been published in NOTAMS (notice to airmen) and was properly listed in controller information at Colorado Springs Municipal Airport Tower (10 miles west of Meadow Lake), Colorado Springs Approach Control and Flight Service. The pilot stated that he was unaware of the frequency change and had not checked NOTAMS prior to departure. In addition, no evidence was found that he attempted to contact any of the above facilities. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N41369](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N41369), registered now, S/N 28-7515370, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA28-151 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (registry code 7102805) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7515370 - Airframe hours: 3530 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Classic Air, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 14, 1996, 59 hours before - Departed: 00V - Airport: 00V, Meadow Lake, runway 15, 6,000 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 100 total, 69 in this make and model, 31 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 70° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: COS, 10 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 19960924046989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960924046989A), Sep 24, 1996: Piper PA28151, Colorado Spring, CO, Substantial damage. (-16) The pilot in command and his female passenger departed meadowlake airport (00V) earlier that evening for a pleasure flight in the local area. When the… 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.