Jefferson County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Broomfield, Colorado 80020
Tuesady, January 30, 1990 12:15 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AS HE LANDED, THE PLANE WAS STRUCK BY SEVERE TURBULENCE AND HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. HE SAID THE PLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT AND RAN PARALLEL TO THE RUNWAY, STRIKING A DIRECTIONAL SIGN AND 3 RUNWAY LIGHTS. THE LEFT LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED WHEN THE PLANE STRUCK THE RAISED EDGE OF AN INTERSECTION. THE PLANE CAME TO REST IN A DITCH BETWEEN THE RUNWAY AND 'ALPHA' TAXIWAY. THE CONTROL TOWER WAS REPORTING SEVERE TURBULENCE IN THE LOCAL AREA AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S ENCOUNTER WITH SEVERE TURBULENCE DURING LANDING, AND HIS FAILURE TO DIVERT TO AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT AFTER BECOMING AWARE OF THE WIND CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LOW LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/30/1990
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1215
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City BROOMFIELD
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80020
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 1
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 5688
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
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 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 70
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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) 436
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 30 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1230
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41371
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9172Y
NTSB Number DEN90LA049
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-28-161
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-161
Aircraft Serial Number 28-8616034
Certified Max Gross Weight 2525
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 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 Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HOFFMAN PILOT CENTER
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address SUITE #7, JEFFCO AIRPORT
Operator City BROOMFIELD
Operator State CO
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 80021
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1200
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
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 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 11L
Runway Length 9000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --