Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On August 27, 1995, at 2015 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA- 28-181, N5448F, landed in a runway construction zone at Fort Collins/Loveland Airport, Fort Collins, Colorado. The private pilot was not injured and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

The accident occurred on runway 33, of which the first 4,000 feet of the 8,500 foot runway was closed for repaving. Investigation revealed the construction zone was properly marked and NOTAMs (Notice To Airmen) were on file regarding the partial closure. The pilot stated he did not check NOTAMs because he "flies to Fort Collins frequently." A copy of affecting NOTAMs and an airport diagram are attached.

The pilot stated that he saw dim runway lights and what he thought was a VASI (visual approach slope indicator) as he approached runway 33. He stated that he touched down "a few hundred feet past that." Witness marks indicated the touch down point was approximately 2,300 feet into the construction zone in an area where the asphalt had been peeled and steel guide rods for the paving equipment had been driven along the centerline. These rods were approximately 25 feet apart, three quarters of an inch in diameter and protruded from the ground about 30 inches. According to the ground scar, touch down was four feet left of centerline and drifted from left to right through the centerline. The aircraft came to rest off the right side off the runway about 500 feet from the end of the construction zone and the temporary threshold lights.

Damage to the aircraft consisted of slices in the lower surface of the right wing and right flap, compression damage to the outer left wing, slices in the lower cowl, a piece broken out of one propeller blade, and damage to the right main landing gear. The landing gear damage occurred when the aircraft hit a lip in the peeled asphalt. Attached is a damage diagram.

During the investigation, the runway lights and VASI were checked. The VASI was off and the runway lights in the construction zone were covered and not visible at night. FAILURE BY THE PILOT TO PROPERLY PLAN HIS FLIGHT AND CHECK NOTAMS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. A FACTOR WAS OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE RUNWAY CONSTRUCTION ZONE.