Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Elbert, Colorado 80106
Friday, April 16, 1993 21:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT IN DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS, THE NON INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT INADVERTENTLY ENCOUNTERED INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND ON A HEADING OPPOSITE THE INTENDED DIRECTION OF TRAVEL. ALTHOUGH VMC PREVAILED AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT 28 MILES SOUTH OF THE SITE, LOCAL RESIDENTS REPORTED REDUCED VISIBILITY WITH RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS IN THE VICINITY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC. FACTORS WERE HIS LACK OF INSTRUMENT TRAINING/EXPERIENCE, EXISTING WEATHER, AND DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/16/1993
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 2100
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City ELBERT
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80106
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 4
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 2100 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 200
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Obscured
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) -99
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Moderate
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 777
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 17 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1300
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:14PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N38481
NTSB Number DEN93FA043
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-181
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-181
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7790555
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 7 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1801
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANTS, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3555 NW 313TH AVE.
Aircraft Owner City HILLSBORO
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97124
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 Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code GRI
Departure City GRAND ISLAND
Departure State NE
Departure Country
Departure Time 1755
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code COS
Destination City CO SPRINGS
Destination State CO
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:14PM
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 --