Piper PA 28R-200 N2702R

Summary

On 18 February 2017 at about 22:29 local time, a Piper PA 28R-200 registered N2702R, operated by Centennial Flyers, was involved in an accident near Centennial, Colorado, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 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

18 February 2017 at 22:29

Classification

Accident

Location

Centennial, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Centennial (APA)

Coordinates

39.5700, -104.8494

Aircraft

Piper PA 28R-200

Registration

N2702R

Category

Airplane

Year built

1968

Engines

1

Operator

Centennial Flyers

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Centennial → Centennial

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN17LA122

1 person was seriously injured.

The loss of airplane control during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A flight instructor and a private pilot receiving instruction were departing for an instructional flight from runway 17L. The pilot receiving instruction reported that after liftoff, the engine rpm was high but that the airplane was not gaining altitude. The instructor reported that shortly after takeoff, he felt as if something was pushing the airplane downward. He stated that the engine had full rpm and that the throttle and mixture controls were full forward. He recalled seeing that the airspeed was about 65 knots and hearing the stall warning horn. The pilot receiving instruction reported that the airspeed was at 55 knots before he braced for impact. The airplane contacted the ground about 1 mile from the end of the runway. Landing gear track marks showed all three landing gear on the ground with a straight track until the airplane impacted a tree, after which it crossed a parking lot driveway, skidded about 100 ft, and came to rest inverted. About 2 minutes before the airplane departed, a small jet airplane had taken off from the same runway. In addition, the winds at the time of the accident were from 170° at 15 knots, gusting to 23 knots. After the accident, the private pilot reported that he was concerned about wake turbulence from the small jet, and the flight instructor reported that he thought that the airplane was affected by wind shear. Examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the available information, the reason for the loss of control could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.