Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents
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2310 Total Accidents
425 Fatal
816 Fatalities
1982-2026
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4 Fatal
BYERS, Colorado
NTSB Narrative
HISTORY OF FLIGHT
On May 29, 1995, at 2115 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28- 180, N55114, was destroyed upon impact with the ground following a loss of control near Byers, Colorado. The non-instrument rated private pilot and his three passengers were fatally injured. The flight departed Alliance, Nebraska. Instrument meteorological condition prevailed throughout the area for the personal night cross country flight for which no flight plan was filed.
The pilot originated his trip from Linton, North Dakota, at 1730. Prior to his departure, the pilot received a telephonic weather briefing at 1029 from the Grand Forks AFSS. The pilot was briefed on the forecasted conditions for his destination and told that VFR was not recommended. The airplane made two scheduled refueling stops on the return trip to the Meadow Lake Airport, near Falcon, Colorado.
The first refueling stop was made at 1750 at the Mobridge Municipal Airport, near Mobridge, South Dakota, which is approximately 40 miles from the point of departure. The airport manager stated that the airplane was topped off with 48.2 gallons of 100LL fuel (Aircraft fuel capacity is 48.0 gallons). The airport manager further stated that the airport at Linton, North Dakota, was unattended and did not have any refueling services.
The second stop was made at 1915 at the Alliance Airport, near Alliance, Nebraska. The airplane was again topped off with 30 gallons of 100LL fuel and the pilot updated his weather.
The weather for Colorado Springs at 1910 (0110Z) was reported by Pan Am Systems as a measured ceiling of 400 foot broken, with visibility of 2 1/2 miles in light rain and fog, and a weather pictorial of the area showed low ceilings and restricted visibilities prevailed for his intended route of flight beyond Akron, Colorado. The pilot told the FBO manager that he only intended to go as far as Akron, and wait for the weather conditions to improve. The airplane departed at approximately 2000. The wreckage was located 40 nautical miles beyond Akron, on the Akron VOR 208 degree radial. There were no reported eyewitnesses to the accident.
PERSONNEL INFORMATION
The private pilot earned his private certificate on November 6, 1993. He had accumulated a total of 4 hours of simulated instrument time.
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
The airplane was equipped for flights in IMC. An estimate of the weight of the airplane at the time of the accident places the airplane within its limits. Examination of the airplane and engine at the accident site did not disclose any mechanical problems. A review of the airframe and engine records by the FAA inspector did not reveal any anomalies or uncorrected maintenance defects prior to the flight.
METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION
IFR conditions were forecasted and present on the east side of the Rocky Mountains from Pueblo to Denver due to upslope conditions caused by a high pressure area in southwestern Nebraska. The weather for Colorado Springs at 2056 was re
On May 29, 1995, at 2115 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28- 180, N55114, was destroyed upon impact with the ground following a loss of control near Byers, Colorado. The non-instrument rated private pilot and his three passengers were fatally injured. The flight departed Alliance, Nebraska. Instrument meteorological condition prevailed throughout the area for the personal night cross country flight for which no flight plan was filed.
The pilot originated his trip from Linton, North Dakota, at 1730. Prior to his departure, the pilot received a telephonic weather briefing at 1029 from the Grand Forks AFSS. The pilot was briefed on the forecasted conditions for his destination and told that VFR was not recommended. The airplane made two scheduled refueling stops on the return trip to the Meadow Lake Airport, near Falcon, Colorado.
The first refueling stop was made at 1750 at the Mobridge Municipal Airport, near Mobridge, South Dakota, which is approximately 40 miles from the point of departure. The airport manager stated that the airplane was topped off with 48.2 gallons of 100LL fuel (Aircraft fuel capacity is 48.0 gallons). The airport manager further stated that the airport at Linton, North Dakota, was unattended and did not have any refueling services.
The second stop was made at 1915 at the Alliance Airport, near Alliance, Nebraska. The airplane was again topped off with 30 gallons of 100LL fuel and the pilot updated his weather.
The weather for Colorado Springs at 1910 (0110Z) was reported by Pan Am Systems as a measured ceiling of 400 foot broken, with visibility of 2 1/2 miles in light rain and fog, and a weather pictorial of the area showed low ceilings and restricted visibilities prevailed for his intended route of flight beyond Akron, Colorado. The pilot told the FBO manager that he only intended to go as far as Akron, and wait for the weather conditions to improve. The airplane departed at approximately 2000. The wreckage was located 40 nautical miles beyond Akron, on the Akron VOR 208 degree radial. There were no reported eyewitnesses to the accident.
PERSONNEL INFORMATION
The private pilot earned his private certificate on November 6, 1993. He had accumulated a total of 4 hours of simulated instrument time.
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
The airplane was equipped for flights in IMC. An estimate of the weight of the airplane at the time of the accident places the airplane within its limits. Examination of the airplane and engine at the accident site did not disclose any mechanical problems. A review of the airframe and engine records by the FAA inspector did not reveal any anomalies or uncorrected maintenance defects prior to the flight.
METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION
IFR conditions were forecasted and present on the east side of the Rocky Mountains from Pueblo to Denver due to upslope conditions caused by a high pressure area in southwestern Nebraska. The weather for Colorado Springs at 2056 was re
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Details
| NTSB Report | FTW95FA222 |
| Aircraft | PIPER PA-28-180 |
| Registration | N55114 |
| Damage | DEST |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Location | 39.7094, -104.2198 |
