Piper PA-30 N444BP

Summary

On 16 July 1998 at about 03:45 local time, a Piper PA-30 registered N444BP, operated by Arthur E. Dodd, was involved in an accident near Watkins, Colorado, United States. 3 people were 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

16 July 1998 at 03:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Watkins, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Front Range (FTG)

Coordinates

39.7490, -104.6001

Aircraft

Piper PA-30

Registration

N444BP

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Arthur E. Dodd

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

FTW98LA312

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot misjudged his altitude. Contributing to the accident were unfavorable wind and dark night conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Following takeoff for a local area personal night flight, the pilot noticed lightning to the north of his position so he returned to land. While on a 2 mile final for landing on runway 8, the aircraft settled and struck the ground. The pilot said he thought he encountered a low level wind shear. Weather at the time was scattered clouds with 10 miles visibility and wind from 160 degrees at 18 knots. An airport located approximately 7 miles northwest of the accident site was equipped with low level wind shear alert equipment which was operational. The equipment did not sound an alarm. The pilot said he was flying at 6,000 feet msl and the accident site elevation was 5,689 feet msl.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.