Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Nederland, Colorado 80466
Friday, July 24, 1992 10:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT AT 11,500 FEET OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH. THE PILOT REVERSED COURSE AND SET UP FOR A FORCED LANDING IN A CLEARING IN A SMALL VALLEY. DURING THE FINAL PORTION OF THE APPROACH, THE ENGINE SMOOTHED OUT; HOWEVER, THE VALLEY WAS TOO SMALL FOR AN EXIT TO BE ACCOMPLISHED. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON A ROAD, BUT A WING TIP CAUGHT AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED INTO TREES. NO MECHANICAL OR SYSTEM FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND DURING AIRCRAFT EXAMINATION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR WAS: NO SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/24/1992
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1000
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City NEDERLAND
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80466
Event Date Year 1992
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
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
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 8000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 60
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 11500
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 --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1938
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 24 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1330
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46779
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:04PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N75350
NTSB Number DEN92LA075
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-28-200R
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-200R
Aircraft Serial Number 28R-7635317
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
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 Oct 17 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 132
Airframe Hours 6547
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WALKER, MERLE L.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O.BO BOX 639
Aircraft Owner City WEST JORDAN
Aircraft Owner State UT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 84084
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WALKER, MERLE L.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
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 No
Departure Airport Code 1V5
Departure City BOULDER
Departure State CO
Departure Country
Departure Time 935
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code U42
Destination City SALT LAKE
Destination State UT
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --