Piper PA-28-235 N56654

Summary

On 19 August 1989 at about 14:45 local time, a Piper PA-28-235 registered N56654, operated by Corlett, David L., was involved in an accident near Dove Creek, Colorado, United States. 4 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 3 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

19 August 1989 at 14:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Dove Creek, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

37.7594, -108.9005

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-235

Registration

N56654

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Corlett, David L.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Englewood

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN89LA196

1 person was seriously injured.

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, UPHILL SLOPING RUNWAY, FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO FOLLOW THE CHECKLIST AND USE ALL OF THE AVAILABLE RUNWAY, AND THE RISING TERRAIN AND OBSTRUCTION (POWER LINE) BEYOND THE END OF THE RUNWAY.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLT & 3 PSGRS WERE BEGINNING A X-COUNTRY FLT. THE PLT SAID HE MADE A 'QUICK OUTSIDE CHECK' OF THE AIRPLANE THAT DID NOT INCLUDE A FUEL SUMP DRAIN. HE TAXIED ONTO RWY 1, WHICH SLOPED UPWARD TO THE NORTH. HE ESTIMATED THE WINDS WERE CALM. THE PLT SAID HE STARTED HIS TAKEOFF RUN 300 FT DOWN THE RUNWAY, MADE A 'RUNNING' MAGNETO CHECK, BUT HE DID NOT MAKE A CARBURETOR HEAT CHECK. HE SAID THE PLANE ONLY CLIMBED ABOUT 30 FT AGL. HE NOTICED IT WAS NOT CLIMBING AS FAST AS THE TERRAIN ROSE, SO HE DECIDED TO LAND IN A FIELD TO AVOID POWER LINES IN THE FLT PATH. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE LEFT WING HIT THE GND & THE LANDING GEAR WAS TORN OFF. THE DOOR JAMMED, BUT A PASSERBY HELPED THE OCCUPANTS FROM THE CABIN. AN INVESTIGATION FAILED TO REVEAL ANY PRE-ACDNT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. DENSITY ALT WAS ABOUT 8700 FT. ABOUT 37 MI WEST, THE WIND FROM 200 DEG AT 5 KTS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.