Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Gilcrest, Colorado 80623
Saturday, December 27, 1986 9:26 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT MADE A LOW PASS AT APRX 200 FT AGL & WAVED AT TW0 FRIENDS WHO WERE DUCK HUNTING. HE THEN MADE A 2ND PASS AT APRX 150 FT & LEFT THE AREA. ABOUT 10 MIN LATER, THE ACFT RETURNED & WAS SEEN FLYING DOWN A RIVER AT TREE TOP LEVEL. THE ACFT STRUCK 3 OF 4 POWER LINES & CRASHED ON A SAND BAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RIVER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/27/1986
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 926
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City GILCREST
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80623
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 12
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 Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 850 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 197
Weather Observation Facility ID BJC
Elevation of weather observation facility 5654
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 24
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 20000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
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) -1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 4792
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
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 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2380
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 27 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1130
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 33055
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N78475
NTSB Number DEN87FA035
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-12-150
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-12-150
Aircraft Serial Number 12-1986
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
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 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 2 1986 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 4
Airframe Hours 1157
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MAX R. HOFFMAN
Aircraft Owner Street Address ROUTE 1, BOX 1
Aircraft Owner City QUINN
Aircraft Owner State SD
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 57775
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 116 S. BLUE RIDGE COURT
Operator City FORT COLLINS
Operator State CO
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 80521
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 3V5
Departure City FORT COLLINS
Departure State CO
Departure Country
Departure Time 900
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 Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
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 --