Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On June 15, 2000, at 0800 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N4948L, sustained substantial damage when it departed the side of the runway during takeoff roll at Loveland/Fort Collins Municipal Airport, Loveland, Colorado. The student pilot and sole occupant was not injured. The local area flight was operating as a student solo training flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

In his report of the accident, the pilot stated he had 45 hours total flight time and 27 hours in this make and model aircraft. He said he had 9 hours flight time in the preceding 90 days and 3 hours in the preceding 30 days.

According to the pilot, he lost control of the airplane during takeoff roll and it departed the side of the runway and ground looped, which caused damage to both wings, the propeller, and the nose landing gear assembly.

At the time of the accident, the wind was from 170 degrees magnetic at 5 knots and the runway in use was runway 15. The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during takeoff roll. A factor was lack of recent experience.