Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On August 31, 1999, approximately 1215 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N5172L, registered to and operated by Falls Aero, Inc., Great Falls, Montana, was destroyed when it collided with terrain during initial climb following takeoff from Meadow Lake Airport, Peyton, Colorado. The private pilot and one passenger received minor injuries; however, two other passengers were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan had been filed for the personal cross-country flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The intended destination was Laramie, Wyoming.

According to the pilot, he arrived at the airport on the evening of August 29 and requested the fuel tanks to be filled "to the tabs," which equates to 36 total gallons of fuel, 18 gallons per tank. The maximum fuel capacity in the airplane is 50 gallons. During the preflight prior to departure on the morning of the accident, he noted that the aircraft's battery was dead, and had it replaced. Prior to taxiing for takeoff, he observed the winds to be out of the northwest at 10 knots, and he selected runway 33 for departure. According to him, he performed a density altitude calculation using a temperature of 81 degrees F. He did not indicate on his accident report what altimeter setting he used; however, using the reported altimeter setting of 30.10 Hg at Colorado Springs, the closest weather reporting facility, the computed density altitude was 9,747 feet above mean sea level (msl).

Prior to departure, the pilot applied 10 degrees of flaps. During takeoff, the ground roll was "normal," and he climbed out at 80 mph (normal climb speed in the PA-28-180). According to him, "after climbing over buildings and trees the airspeed suddenly dropped to 60 mph and [the] engine began to labor." He lowered the nose to gain airspeed and retracted the flaps. As the aircraft approached power lines, the pilot elected to fly under them. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft impacted slightly inclining terrain. Upon impact with the ground, the four occupants exited the aircraft, and the airplane was subsequently consumed by fire.

According to a witness on the ground, he observed N5172L positioned at the end of runway 33 prior to departure. At that time, he noted the winds to be out of the west/southwest at 10 knots. He did not see the aircraft depart the runway; however, he next observed the aircraft at 50 to 70 feet above ground level (agl) about 200 feet south off the departure end of runway 33 "flying at a very nose-high attitude, with an unusually low ground speed and its wings rocking slightly as if on the verge of a stall." He then observed the aircraft begin to lose altitude. He stated that the aircraft appeared to maintain its nose-high attitude until it disappeared from his view behind the trees 1,500 feet and slightly to the left of centerline off the end of runway 33.

At 1154, the reported weather conditions at Colorado Springs, locat