Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Durango - La Plata County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Durango, Colorado 81301
Tuesady, June 18, 2013 11:30 MDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
The pilot reported that, in accordance with operating procedures, he leaned the engine’s fuel-air mixture before takeoff to compensate for the high-density altitude (the departure airport had a density altitude of 9,355 feet). During takeoff, the airplane accelerated to 80 mph, lifted off the runway, and climbed to about 100 feet above ground level. The pilot stated that the airplane seemed “sluggish” and that it stopped climbing. The airplane rapidly descended, the pilot made a controlled landing off the departure end of the runway, and the airplane’s wings were substantially damaged when they struck several approach lights. Fuel was found on board, and it was not contaminated. The examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. An engine ground run was conducted, and the engine developed full power. The runway length was sufficient for a safe take off. The high-density altitude and the tailwind likely contributed to airplane’s reduced performance.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
The pilot's improper decision to take off with a tailwind at a high-density altitude, which resulted in the airplane’s failure to maintain the initial climb rate.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 6/18/2013 |
| Event Day of the Week | Tuesday |
| Time of Event | 1130 |
| Event Time Zone | Mountain Daylight Time |
| Event City | Durango |
| Event State | COLORADO |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 81301 |
| Event Date Year | 2013 |
| Event Date Month | 6 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 370905N |
| Event Location Longitude | 1074513W |
| Event Location Airport | Durango - la Plata County |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | DRO |
| Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport | On Airport |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | 1 |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | -- |
| Airport Elevation | 6685 |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | -- |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1100 Mountain Daylight Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 210 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | DRO |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 6685 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 1 |
| 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) | 24 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 13 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 90 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 12 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Not Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | -- |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 30.18 |
| 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 | 2 |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | -- |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 32379 |
| NTSB Notification Source | FAA-ANW-ROC |
| NTSB Notification Date | -- |
| NTSB Notification Time | -- |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Nov 4 2013 1:17PM |
| User who most recently changed record | silj |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | -- |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N7444J |
| NTSB Number | CEN13LA358 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | -- |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 91: General Aviation |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | None |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | No |
| Damage | Substantial |
| Aircraft Fire | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | PIPER |
| Aircraft Model | PA-28R-180 |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 28R-30791 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 2500 |
| 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 | Retractable |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | Annual |
| Date of Last Inspection | Jun 1 2013 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | -- |
| Airframe Hours | 3612 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | No |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | Unknown |
| ELT Type | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | Charles D and Barbara K Hass and Kristen E Collins |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | On File |
| Aircraft Owner City | TYLER |
| Aircraft Owner State | TX |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 75707-7645 |
| Operator is an individual? | No |
| Operator Name | Charles D and Barbara K Hass and Kristen E Collins |
| Operator Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Street Address | On File |
| Operator City | TYLER |
| Operator State | TX |
| Operator Country | USA |
| Operator Zip code | 75707-7645 |
| 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 | Yes |
| Departure Airport Code | DRO |
| Departure City | Durango |
| Departure State | CO |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 1130 |
| Departure Time Zone | MDT |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | -- |
| Destination Airport Code | TYR |
| Destination City | Tyler |
| Destination State | TX |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | -- |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Nov 4 2013 1:09PM |
| User who most recently changed record | silj |
| Since inspection or accident | Time of Accident |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | 21 |
| Runway Length | 9201 |
| Runway Width | 150 |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |