Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ellicott, Colorado 80831
Wednesday, October 30, 1991 14:27 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT ELECTED TO RETURN TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT AFTER HE OBSERVED ICE ON THE WING. HE BECAME DISORIENTED AND WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE AIRPORT. HE ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON A ROAD. ON THE DOWNWIND LEG, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ON THE ROAD AT 120 MPH AND THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. THE AIRPLANE SLID THROUGH A FENCE BEFORE COMING TO A HALT. THE PILOT WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED AND HIS MEDICAL CERTIFICATE HAD EXPIRED. THE PILOT, WHO IS ALSO AN AIRCRAFT MECHANIC, SAID HE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE POWER LOSS BUT SUSPECTED THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN TAMPERED WITH BY PERSON(S) HE REFUSED TO NAME.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A POWER LOSS FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS, THE PILOT'S POORLY PLANNED APPROACH, AND EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED. FACTORS WERE: THE PILOT'S INTENTIONAL FLIGHT INTO IMC, ACCUMULATION OF WING ICE AND HIS BECOMING LOST DISORIENTED.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/30/1991
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1427
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City ELLICOTT
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80831
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 10
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1450 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 245
Weather Observation Facility ID COS
Elevation of weather observation facility 6172
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 18
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 10000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Partial Obscuration
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 804
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44784
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:48AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6815P
NTSB Number DEN92LA006
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-24-250
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-24-250
Aircraft Serial Number 24-1948
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SOUTHWEST AIRCRAFT RECOVERY
Aircraft Owner Street Address 9900 ADMIRAL DEWEY, NE
Aircraft Owner City ALBUQUERQUE
Aircraft Owner State NM
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 87111
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SOUTHWEST AIRCRAFT RECOVERY
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 CO05
Departure City ELLICOTT
Departure State CO
Departure Country
Departure Time 1350
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code P10
Destination City CHANDLER
Destination State AZ
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --