Piper PA-28-140 N6306R

Summary

On 27 June 1997 at about 00:15 local time, a Piper PA-28-140 registered N6306R, operated by Michael S. Luther, was involved in an accident near Leadville, Colorado, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 June 1997 at 00:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Leadville, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

39.2393, -106.2905

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-140

Registration

N6306R

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Michael S. Luther

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Ferry

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Grover → Aspen

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW97LA236

1 person had minor injuries.

an attempt by the pilot to fly the aircraft over mountainous terrain in a regime that was beyond its climb performance limit. High density altitude was a related factor.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While on a cross-country ferry flight to deliver the aircraft to its new owner, the pilot attempted to fly through a mountain pass, which was 12,095 feet above mean sea level (msl). He climbed the aircraft to 12,000 feet msl and said the aircraft would not maintain speed or better than 2,350 engine rpm (2,600 rpm is maximum), and it settled at a rate of 75 to 150 feet per minute. The temperature at that altitude was 54 degrees Fahrenheit (F). A forced landing was made, and the aircraft nosed over and came to rest on its back. The pilot received minor injuries and hiked to the nearest road, where he obtained help and was taken to a local hospital. According to the aircraft climb performance chart, 12,000 feet msl and 54 degrees F is outside the chart limits, thus placing the aircraft outside the climb performance flight envelope. Following the accident and recovery of the aircraft, inspection of the engine revealed the engine could be operated. Two test runs were conducted, and the engine performed to its maximum capability for the temperature and altitude present at the time of the engine runs.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.