Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Antonito, Colorado 81120
Monday, June 12, 2006 14:20 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot said that after takeoff, he started climbing to 10,500 feet. When he reached 10,000 feet, a "strong and persistent" downdraft forced him to land on a ridge at 9,350 feet elevation. During the landing, the right main and nose landing gears were torn off.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to attain a safe altitude before attempting to cross mountainous terrain. Contributing factors were the downdrafts and the high density altitude conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/12/2006
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1420
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Antonito
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 81120
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 370790N
Event Location Longitude 1061577W
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1652 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 45
Weather Observation Facility ID ALS
Elevation of weather observation facility 7539
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 300
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.28
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 20325
NTSB Notification Source FAA-Northwest Mountain Region
NTSB Notification Date Jun 13 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Oct 3 2006 2:46PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Denver FAA Flight Standards District Office

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N584W
NTSB Number DEN06CA087
Missing Aircraft Indicator Y
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-150
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-2247
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Apr 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 5099
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name On File
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Chandler
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85248
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name On File
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address On File
Operator City Chandler
Operator State AZ
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 ALS
Departure City Alamosa
Departure State CO
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1450
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SJN
Destination City St. Johns
Destination State AZ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise - normal
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 13 2006 4:38PM
User who most recently changed record BOWL
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --