Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On December 31, 1999, approximately 1230 mountain standard time, a PA-22-160, N9225D, was substantially damaged when it impacted the terrain during a forced landing near Brighton, Colorado. The private pilot, the sole occupant aboard the airplane, was seriously injured. The airplane was being operated by the owner/pilot under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country personal flight which was originating at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed.

The pilot said that he performed a normal preflight, but did not visually look into the fuel tanks. He did say that he turned the master switch on, and the fuel gauges indicated approximately one half full. The pilot said that he put the fuel selector on the left tank, and started the engine. He departed southbound with one notch of flaps. The pilot said that he performed a soft field takeoff, and "I raised the nose wheel quickly to keep the prop out of the dirt."

The pilot reported in his written statement that approximately halfway down the 1780 foot dirt/grass runway, the airplane lifted off the ground. He raised the flaps to zero, and at 300 to 400 feet above ground level (agl) he made a standard left turn to the east. A witness said that when the airplane became airborne, it "started gaining altitude fast." The pilot said to the NTSB Investigator-In-Charge that he "performed a steeper then normal climb-out, and then turned left continuing the steep climb."

The pilot said in his written statement that "the engine backfired 2 or 3 times, and stopped turning." The pilot said that the propeller stopped completely. He said that he set up a glide of 80 mph, selected a field to land in, and attempted an engine restart. He impacted the south side of a large irrigation ditch.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

FAA records indicate that the pilot completed his private pilot check ride on July 29, 1979. The pilot said that he had approximately 818 hours of flight experience at the time of the accident.

The pilot registered the airplane May 2, 1980.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The airplane was a single engine, propeller-driven, four seat airplane, which was manufactured by Piper Aircraft, Inc., in 1958. It was powered by a Lycoming O-320-B2A, four cylinder, reciprocating, horizontally opposed, direct drive, air cooled, normally aspirated (carbureted) engine, which had a maximum takeoff rating of 160 horsepower at sea level. At the time of the accident, the engine had 1,843 hours since overhaul. The pilot said that the airplane received an annual inspection on December 18, 1999. The airplane had flown approximately 1.5 hours since this inspection.

There was an 18 gallon fuel tank located at each wing root. Each fuel tank had two lines, forward and aft, adjacent to the fuselage which can feed the fuel system. A pilot/mechanic said that if a steep climbing departure turn is performed by a pilot, and the airplane is only part