Front Range Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Watkins, Colorado 80137
Saturday, September 28, 1996 5:35 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While taking off on a cross-country flight, the aircraft became airborne but would neither climb nor accelerate. The aircraft weight was 3,670 pounds, which was approximately 100 pounds below maximum. The density altitude was 6,000 feet msl. The aircraft was equipped with manual turbochargers which were not being used. According to the operating instruction for the aircraft, the turbochargers should be used for high altitude takeoff to obtain the desired manifold pressure of 29.5 inches at 2,700 rpm. The engines were capable of producing only 23.5 inches of manifold pressure without the turbochargers engaged and this power was insufficient for climb at the weight and speed used.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot-in-command's failure to use proper procedures and engage the turbochargers for takeoff from a high altitude airport. A factor was the high density altitude.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/28/1996
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 535
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City WATKINS
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80137
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport FRONT RANGE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FTG
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport 260
Airport Elevation 5500
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 553 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 80
Weather Observation Facility ID FTG
Elevation of weather observation facility 5500
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 2
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Bright
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
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) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 6000
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 2
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1670
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 28 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 927
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:21AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N37P
NTSB Number FTW96LA403
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-30
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-30
Aircraft Serial Number 30-1457
Certified Max Gross Weight 3725
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 10 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 141
Airframe Hours 5607
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CKB AVIATION, LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5323 S. GENOA WAY
Aircraft Owner City AURORA
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 80015
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 FTG
Departure City
Departure State CO
Departure Country
Departure Time 535
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code O61
Destination City SACRAMENTO
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 26
Runway Length 8000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --