Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn March 30, 2013, about 2000 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA28-140, N55093, registered to the pilot, was substantially damaged after impacting terrain while maneuvering in the vicinity of Castle Rock, Colorado. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. Dusk visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the vicinity and no flight plan was filed for the personal cross-country flight that was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight originated at 1715 from the Sandia Airpark Estes East Airport (1N1), Albuquerque, New Mexico, and its planned destination was Centennial Airport (APA), Denver, Colorado. The purpose of the flight was transport the airplane from California back to Denver, as the pilot had relocated from California to Denver about one month prior to the accident.

According to radar data provided by the FAA, the airplane's flight was on a course directly to its planned destination of APA. About 18 miles southwest of APA, the radar track showed the airplane make several turns off its track, then resume its track toward the airport. Weather radar images showed that the airplane was flying in between two areas of convective storm activity. Radar contact was lost about 16 miles from APA about 8,000 feet MSL (about 1,500 feet AGL). No distress calls were heard from the pilot.

A local resident reported hearing the sound of an airplane engine revving, but he did not see the accident. The wreckage of the airplane was found in a ranch pasture by a local ranch worker on the morning of March 31, 2013. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe pilot held a private pilot certificate with a single engine land rating. According to flight log book entries, he had accumulated about 115 hours of total flight time, with 15 hours in the make and model of the accident airplane and 12 total hours of night time. He held a valid FAA 3rd Class medical certificate, dated April 20, 2010. AIRCRAFT INFORMATIONThe 1973 model Piper PA-28-140 airplane, serial number 28-7325321, had about 2.650 total airframe hours. Its last annual inspection was completed on November 20, 2012, at 2,596 airframe hours. The airplane was equipped with a Lycoming O-320-E3D engine, serial number L-33470-27A. The engine had about 697 hours since its most recent overhaul. According to registration records, the pilot purchased the airplane in December or 2012. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATIONTwo residents in the vicinity of the accident reported that they observed strong surface wind gusts and a drop in temperature, about the time of the accident occurred.

Resident 1 was located at:

LAT: 39 degrees, 17 minutes 18 seconds North. LONG: 104 degrees 46 minutes 32 seconds West.

Resident 2 was located at:

LAT: 39 degrees, 18 minutes 2 seconds North. LONG: 104 degrees 45 minutes 46 seconds West.

The airplane wreckage was located at:

LAT: 39 degrees 18.209 minutes North. LONG: 104 degrees 45.332 minutes West

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