Piper PA-31T2 N63XL

Summary

On 15 September 1989 at about 19:36 local time, a Piper PA-31T2 registered N63XL was involved in an accident near Louisville, Colorado, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 September 1989 at 19:36

Classification

Accident

Location

Louisville, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Jefferson County (BJC)

Coordinates

39.9607, -105.1391

Aircraft

Piper PA-31T2

Registration

N63XL

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Broomfield → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN89FA217

3 people died.

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHILE MANEUVERING FOR SPACING IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AT LOW ALTITUDE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLT & 2 MECHANICS WERE ON A MAINT TEST FLT. AS THE ACFT WAS ON A STRAIGHT-IN APCH TO RWY 11 FROM THE WEST, THE PLT WAS ADVISED OF TRAFFIC AHEAD & TOLD TO SLOW HIS SPEED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. THE PLT ACKNOWLEDGED. ABOUT 15 SEC LATER, THE CTLR TOLD THE PLT (OF N63XL) TO MAKE A 360 DEG TURN TO THE LEFT FOR SPACING. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT ENTER A STEEP BANK (TURN), THEN GO INTO A STEEP SPIRALING, NOSE DOWN, DESCENT & CRASH. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE ACFT OR ENGS WAS FOUND.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.