Piper PA32R N301RT

Summary

On 23 July 2009 at about 18:40 local time, a Piper PA32R registered N301RT, operated by Dean Sather, was involved in an accident near Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 July 2009 at 18:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Colorado Springs Municipal (KCOS)

Coordinates

38.8056, -104.7006

Aircraft

Piper PA32R

Registration

N301RT

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Dean Sather

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Colorado Springs → Amarillo

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN09CA465

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's low altitude encounter with windshear during takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, the tower controller cautioned for wind shear and then cleared the flight to depart. The pilot delayed momentarily to assess the wind conditions and then departed. The airplane climbed to 75 feet, and then began to lose altitude as if the airplane was "being pushed down." The pilot applied corrective measures but was unable to arrest the descent. The airplane impacted the runway resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. The automated special weather observation report, issued shortly after the time of the accident, reported winds variable from 100 degrees to 160 degrees at 7 knots with light rain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.