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
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Minor/None
Colorado Springs, Colorado
NTSB Narrative
The pilot reported that, shortly after takeoff the airplane drifted left off runway heading. He attempted to correct, but the airplane continued to drift left, impacted a fence and came to rest in a horse corral.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was 220Β° at 10 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The pilot reported that, about the time of the accident the wind was 330Β° at 11 knots. The airplane was departing from runway 08. The pilot's failure to maintain the runway heading while taking off with a gusting tailwind, which resulted in impact with a fence.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was 220Β° at 10 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The pilot reported that, about the time of the accident the wind was 330Β° at 11 knots. The airplane was departing from runway 08. The pilot's failure to maintain the runway heading while taking off with a gusting tailwind, which resulted in impact with a fence.
Case Study & Lessons Learned
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NTSB Findings
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Heading/course-Not attained/maintained - C
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Tailwind-Effect on operation - C
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Effect on operation - C
Details
| NTSB Report | GAA20CA014 |
| Aircraft | Piper PA38 |
| Registration | N9708T |
| Damage | SUBS |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Location | 38.9428, -104.5700 |
