Piper PA-28-140 N55365

Summary

On 3 July 1995 at about 22:17 local time, a Piper PA-28-140 registered N55365 was involved in an accident near Colorado Spgs, 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

3 July 1995 at 22:17

Classification

Accident

Location

Colorado Spgs, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

38.8092, -104.7102

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-140

Registration

N55365

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Denver

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW95LA274

1 person had minor injuries.

AN INADVERTENT WINDSHEAR ENCOUNTER. A FACTOR WAS THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF AND CLIMBED TO AN ALTITUDE OF 200 FEET. THE PILOT SAID THAT WHEN HE WAS ABOUT 500 FEET FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY, HE ENCOUNTERED WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS 'WIND SHEAR' OR A 'DOWNDRAFT.' HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A FIELD BUT THE DESCENT RATE FORCED HIM INTO A GRAVEL PIT AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE WIND WAS FROM 230 DEGREES AT 19 KNOTS, WITH GUSTS TO 26 KNOTS. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS COMPUTED TO BE 8,164 FEET MSL. THE 'RATE OF CLIMB VS DENSITY ALTITUDE' PERFORMANCE CHART INDICATES THAT BETWEEN 1,950 POUNDS AND 2,150 POUNDS GROSS WEIGHT, THE AIRPLANE WILL CLIMB BETWEEN 350 AND 430 FEET PER MINUTE. THE AIRPLANE WAS ESTIMATED TO WEIGHT BETWEEN 1,950 AND 2,150 POUNDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.