Meadow Lake Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Peyton, Colorado 80831
Tuesady, August 31, 1999 12:15 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Prior to takeoff, the pilot observed the winds to be out of the northwest at 10 knots, and he selected runway 33 for departure. He performed a density altitude calculation and it was determined to be 9,747 feet msl. Takeoff was normal, and the pilot climbed out at 80 mph. During initial climb, the airspeed dropped to 60 mph. He lowered the nose to gain airspeed and flew the aircraft under a set of power lines. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft impacted slightly inclining terrain. The four occupants exited the aircraft, and the airplane was subsequently consumed by fire. At 1154, the closest reporting weather facility located 10.4 nm to the southwest was reporting the winds to be from 110 degrees at 7 knots. At 1254, the winds were variable at 4 knots. Several pilots in the area reported encountering sudden windshift conditions near the time of the accident. According to calculated weight and balance data, the aircraft was slightly under maximum gross weight and within center of gravity limits at takeoff. There is no performance data in the Airplane Flight Manual for takeoffs above 7,000 feet density altitude.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's loss of control resulting in inadvertent stall/mush during initial climb following takeoff. Factors were the unfavorable, sudden windshift conditions, the high density altitude, and the manufacturer's failure to provide adequate density altitude performance information in the Airplane Flight Manual.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/31/1999
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1215
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City PEYTON
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80831
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MEADOW LAKE AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 00V
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport 330
Airport Elevation 6874
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1154 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 216
Weather Observation Facility ID COS
Elevation of weather observation facility 6184
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
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) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 9747
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
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 2
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 811
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 31 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1238
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 11:50AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5172L
NTSB Number DEN99LA156
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-180
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-180
Aircraft Serial Number 28-4458
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 Feb 10 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4227
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FALLS AERO, INC,
Aircraft Owner Street Address 600 10TH AVE. SW
Aircraft Owner City GREAT FALLS
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59404
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 00V
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1210
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code LAR
Destination City LARAMIE
Destination State WY
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 33
Runway Length 6000
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --