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
← Back to all accidents
3 Fatal
RYE, Colorado
NTSB Narrative
HISTORY OF FLIGHT
On April 27, 1997, at 0529 mountain daylight time a Piper PA-32, N2225A, was reported missing by family members on a flight from Jefferson County Airport (BJC), Broomfield, Colorado, to Van Nuys (VNY), California.
The flight departed BJC at 1408 on April 26, 1997, and the aircraft was found on April 30, 1997, at 1630 on the 220 degree radial of the Pueblo, Colorado, VORTAC at 35 miles. The accident site was at 10,800 feet above mean sea level (msl) on a 52 degree snow covered, forested slope. There were three persons aboard and all sustained fatal injuries. The actual time of impact is unknown.
The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. According to persons in the accident area, the local weather was cloudy with the mountain tops obscured, According to the Denver Automated Flight Service Station, a weather brief was given to the pilot followed by an update. During both briefings, the briefer informed the pilot that VFR flight was not recommended. (See attached transcripts).
Investigation into the history which lead up to the accident, provided information that on March 4, 1997, the R. W. Carpenter Company was contacted by a Mr. William Bryan Wyckoff, Jr., who contracted with the company to sell his 1979 Piper PA-32, N2225A. (See attached statement).
On March 24, 1997, Mr. Joe Schwartz, of Los Angeles, California, contacted Mr. Carpenter concerning the possibility of purchasing the aircraft. In the conversation, Mr. Schwartz said he and two other persons later identified as Jacob Rahamin, Granada Hills, California, and Joseph Rosen, North Hollywood, California, desired to send someone to examine the aircraft on their behalf.
On April 1, 1997, Mr. Ariel Weiss came to Denver Air Center, Jefferson County Airport, Broomfield, Colorado, (the airport and facility where the aircraft was housed) to examine N2225A on behalf of Mr. Schwartz and his partners. During that time, according to Mr. Carpenter, Mr. Weiss was in contact, via telephone, with people in California; however, he said they spoke a foreign language and he could understand little of what was being said. According to Mr. Carpenter, Mr. Weiss spent nearly two days examining the aircraft and aircraft records. On April 3, 1997, he spent over an hour flying the aircraft with the owner. After the flight, Mr. Weiss left saying that he was returning to California.
In his statement, Mr. Carpenter said that on April 6, 1997, "Mr. Schwartz and his two partners, Joe and Jacob, came to Denver Air Center and looked at the aircraft." "They did not wish to fly in the plane." After negotiations, according to Mr. Carpenter, a sale agreement was consummated and the new owners departed back to California, taking the aircraft keys, log books, and Pilot Operating Handbook with them.
On April 26, 1997, according to his statement, Mr. Carpenter picked up three people at Denver International Airport (DIA) at 0945. The people were Jos
On April 27, 1997, at 0529 mountain daylight time a Piper PA-32, N2225A, was reported missing by family members on a flight from Jefferson County Airport (BJC), Broomfield, Colorado, to Van Nuys (VNY), California.
The flight departed BJC at 1408 on April 26, 1997, and the aircraft was found on April 30, 1997, at 1630 on the 220 degree radial of the Pueblo, Colorado, VORTAC at 35 miles. The accident site was at 10,800 feet above mean sea level (msl) on a 52 degree snow covered, forested slope. There were three persons aboard and all sustained fatal injuries. The actual time of impact is unknown.
The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. According to persons in the accident area, the local weather was cloudy with the mountain tops obscured, According to the Denver Automated Flight Service Station, a weather brief was given to the pilot followed by an update. During both briefings, the briefer informed the pilot that VFR flight was not recommended. (See attached transcripts).
Investigation into the history which lead up to the accident, provided information that on March 4, 1997, the R. W. Carpenter Company was contacted by a Mr. William Bryan Wyckoff, Jr., who contracted with the company to sell his 1979 Piper PA-32, N2225A. (See attached statement).
On March 24, 1997, Mr. Joe Schwartz, of Los Angeles, California, contacted Mr. Carpenter concerning the possibility of purchasing the aircraft. In the conversation, Mr. Schwartz said he and two other persons later identified as Jacob Rahamin, Granada Hills, California, and Joseph Rosen, North Hollywood, California, desired to send someone to examine the aircraft on their behalf.
On April 1, 1997, Mr. Ariel Weiss came to Denver Air Center, Jefferson County Airport, Broomfield, Colorado, (the airport and facility where the aircraft was housed) to examine N2225A on behalf of Mr. Schwartz and his partners. During that time, according to Mr. Carpenter, Mr. Weiss was in contact, via telephone, with people in California; however, he said they spoke a foreign language and he could understand little of what was being said. According to Mr. Carpenter, Mr. Weiss spent nearly two days examining the aircraft and aircraft records. On April 3, 1997, he spent over an hour flying the aircraft with the owner. After the flight, Mr. Weiss left saying that he was returning to California.
In his statement, Mr. Carpenter said that on April 6, 1997, "Mr. Schwartz and his two partners, Joe and Jacob, came to Denver Air Center and looked at the aircraft." "They did not wish to fly in the plane." After negotiations, according to Mr. Carpenter, a sale agreement was consummated and the new owners departed back to California, taking the aircraft keys, log books, and Pilot Operating Handbook with them.
On April 26, 1997, according to his statement, Mr. Carpenter picked up three people at Denver International Airport (DIA) at 0945. The people were Jos
Case Study & Lessons Learned
Generating educational case study...
Details
| NTSB Report | FTW97FA171 |
| Aircraft | Piper PA-32RT-300T |
| Registration | N2225A |
| Damage | DEST |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Location | 37.9205, -104.9293 |
