Piper PA 28-235 N9172W

Summary

On 14 March 2014 at about 23:00 local time, a Piper PA 28-235 registered N9172W was involved in an accident near De Beque, Colorado, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 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

14 March 2014 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

De Beque, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

39.4497, -108.6100

Aircraft

Piper PA 28-235

Registration

N9172W

Category

Airplane

Year built

1966

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mack → Mack

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN14CA160

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering at low altitude.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot had been maneuvering at low altitude below the rim of a canyon in a remote mountainous area and reported that he had done this aerial survey operation in this same canyon several times before. During climb-out from the canyon the airplane failed to achieve enough climb performance to clear the ridge and the airplane impacted terrain at about 8,500 feet mean sea level. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the airplane including the complete separation of the left wing and partial separation of the right wing. The airplane came to rest upright and there was a significant fuel spill, but no postimpact fire. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot also reported that in the future he should maintain a higher altitude for flight over the canyon.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.