Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

15Mi. Ne Of Chr, Colorado
Monday, August 16, 1982 6:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE EN ROUTE, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER, AND SUBSEQUENTLY, THERE WAS A TOTAL POWER LOSS. THE PILOT LANDED IN A SMALL CLEARING, BUT DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR HIT A LARGE ROCK. THE GEAR FAILED AND PUNCTURED A HOLE IN THE FUEL TANK. THE AIRCRAFT STOPPED NEAR THE EDGE OF A CLIFF. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER STOPPING, HE SAW A TRAIL OF FLAME ABOUT 8 INCHES WIDE HEADING TOWARD THE PLANE. HE STATED THAT HE JUMPED OUT OVER THE WING AND DOWN THE CLIFF, THEN A FEW MOMENTS LATER THERE WERE 2 LOUD EXPLOSIONS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED BY A POST CRASH FIRE. THE PILOT STAYED WITH THE PLANE UNTIL THE NEXT DAY, THEN ELECTED TO WALK OUT. HE REPORTED BECOMING DISORIENTED AND SPENT 3 DAYS IN THE MOUNTAINS BEFORE REACHING HELP. THE PLANE CRASHED AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 9500 FT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/16/1982
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 600
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City 15MI. NE OF CHR
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 8
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 Unknown
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 Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 60
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
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) 1711
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
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 N3072Z
NTSB Number DEN82DA174
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28RT-201T
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28RT-20
Aircraft Serial Number 28R79311783
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
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 1450
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROLLIN WILLCOXSON
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8780 E. MCKILLIPSE ROAD
Aircraft Owner City SCOTTSDALE
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85257
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ROBERT C. HERSCHMAN
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 439 S. 30TH STREET
Operator City MESA
Operator State AZ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 85204
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 P16
Departure City MESA
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 230
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code IML
Destination City IMPERIAL
Destination State NE
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
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 --