Jefferson County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Broomfield, Colorado 80020
Tuesady, December 10, 1996 13:26 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, the wind was variable from 230 to 270 degrees at 25 to 35 knots, although the ATIS reported the wind was from 260 degrees at 20 gusting 30 knots. Due to the wind condition (with moderate turbulence), the pilot decided to land 'a little long and 10 knots fast with no flaps.' As he flared for landing, the airplane 'gusted up, then down, with left wing high and strongly to the right.' The airplane struck two VASI light structures, while airborne. After the pilot realigned the airplane with the runway, he landed and the airplane departed the right side of the runway. Airport officials later reported three runway signs and four runway lights damaged.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

failure of the pilot to maintain proper alignment with the runway, while landing. A factor relating to the accident was: the variable/gusty wind condition with possible windshear.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/10/1996
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1326
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City BROOMFIELD
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80020
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport JEFFERSON COUNTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BJC
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 5657
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1145 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID BJC
Elevation of weather observation facility 5657
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 6000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 75
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 20
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 30
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 6945
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1335
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 10 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1251
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:29AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8450P
NTSB Number FTW97LA061
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-24-400
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-24-400
Aircraft Serial Number 26-26
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
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 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 15 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 111
Airframe Hours 4877
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAMES R. CHADO
Aircraft Owner Street Address 9670 W. COAL MINE AVE.
Aircraft Owner City LITTLETON
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 80123
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 12528 W. ARIZONA PLACE
Operator City LAKEWOOD
Operator State CO
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 80228
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code LAA
Departure City LAMAR
Departure State CO
Departure Country
Departure Time 1201
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code BJC
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight 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 29R
Runway Length 9000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --