Piper PA-28-181 accident near Elbert, CO
On April 17, 1993, a Piper PA-28-181 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Elbert, CO. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- April 17, 1993
- Place
- Elbert, CO
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 39.219°N, 104.530°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X12112
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On Friday, April 16, 1993, at approximately 2100 mountain daylight time, (all times are adjusted to mountain daylight time unless otherwise noted), a Piper PA-28-181, N38481, impacted the ground approximately five miles east of Elbert, Colorado. The private, non instrument rated pilot and passenger received fatal injuries and the aircraft was destroyed. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site and no flight plan was filed for this personal cross country flight to Colorado Springs, Colorado, which originated from Waterloo, Iowa. On April 15, 1993, at 2137, the pilot of N38481, received an outlook briefing from Fort Dodge, Iowa, Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) for a flight from Waterloo, Iowa, (ALO),to Grand Island, Nebraska, (GRI), direct to Colorado Springs,(COS). On April 16th, at 0909, the same person received a full brief for the flight. On the same date, at 1127, an updated briefing was given. At 1636 on April 16, the pilot of N38481 called Columbus, Nebraska, AFSS by telephone, and obtained a pre flight brief for a VFR flight from GRI to COS. According to the attached fueling order, N38481, stopped for fuel at Central Nebraska Regional Airport, Grand Island, Nebraska, where 29.4 gallons of 100LL aviation grade fuel was purchased. The time stamp on the fuel ticket was 1743. According to persons at the fueling facility, the aircraft departed 10 to 15 minutes after fueling was completed. At 1812, N38481 made initial contact with Minneapolis, Minnesota, Air Route Traffic Control Center, (ARTCC), and requested VFR flight
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC. FACTORS WERE HIS LACK OF INSTRUMENT TRAINING/EXPERIENCE, EXISTING WEATHER, AND DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS.
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Browse: Colorado · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
