Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents
Learn from Colorado's accident history to fly safer in the Rockies
2310 Total Accidents
425 Fatal
816 Fatalities
1982-2026
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Minor/None
Colorado Springs, Colorado
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. The pilot's low altitude encounter with windshear during takeoff.
Case Study & Lessons Learned
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NTSB Findings
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Windshear-Ability to respond/compensate - C
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Aircraft capability-Climb capability-Capability exceeded
Details
| NTSB Report | CEN09CA465 |
| Aircraft | PIPER PA32R |
| Registration | N301RT |
| Damage | SUBS |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Location | 38.8056, -104.7006 |
