Piper PA-32RT-300T N2225A

Summary

On 26 April 1997 at about 22:00 local time, a Piper PA-32RT-300T registered N2225A was involved in an accident near Rye, Colorado, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 April 1997 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Rye, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

37.9205, -104.9293

Aircraft

Piper PA-32RT-300T

Registration

N2225A

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Broomfield → Van Nuys

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW97FA171

3 people died.

The pilot initiating flight into IMC conditions in mountainous terrain. Factors were mountainous terrain, low ceiling, snow, preflight planning, and in-flight planning and decision making.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While on a VFR, no flight plan, cross-country flight, the pilot entered IMC conditions and the aircraft struck the side of a 12,349 foot mountain at the 10,800 foot level. The aircraft was missing for four days and was located by Civil Air Patrol search aircraft. The pilot had received two briefings from flight services in which he was told, visual flight was not recommended.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.