Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Colorado Spgs, Colorado 80916
Monday, July 3, 1995 16:17 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF AND CLIMBED TO AN ALTITUDE OF 200 FEET. THE PILOT SAID THAT WHEN HE WAS ABOUT 500 FEET FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY, HE ENCOUNTERED WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS 'WIND SHEAR' OR A 'DOWNDRAFT.' HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A FIELD BUT THE DESCENT RATE FORCED HIM INTO A GRAVEL PIT AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE WIND WAS FROM 230 DEGREES AT 19 KNOTS, WITH GUSTS TO 26 KNOTS. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS COMPUTED TO BE 8,164 FEET MSL. THE 'RATE OF CLIMB VS DENSITY ALTITUDE' PERFORMANCE CHART INDICATES THAT BETWEEN 1,950 POUNDS AND 2,150 POUNDS GROSS WEIGHT, THE AIRPLANE WILL CLIMB BETWEEN 350 AND 430 FEET PER MINUTE. THE AIRPLANE WAS ESTIMATED TO WEIGHT BETWEEN 1,950 AND 2,150 POUNDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

AN INADVERTENT WINDSHEAR ENCOUNTER. A FACTOR WAS THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/3/1995
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1617
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City COLORADO SPGS
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80916
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1624 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 170
Weather Observation Facility ID COS
Elevation of weather observation facility 6172
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 8000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 19
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 26
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 8164
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 451
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 3 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1826
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:24PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N55365
NTSB Number FTW95LA274
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-140
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7325385
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 1 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 2600
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EDWARD A. HEIM
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR 1, BOX 85 5
Aircraft Owner City BENTON
Aircraft Owner State KS
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 67017
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 3360 S.W. PRAIRIE CREEK RD.
Operator City BENTON
Operator State KS
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 67017
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code COS
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1610
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code APA
Destination City DENVER
Destination State CO
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --