Piper PA-28-180 accident near Byers, CO
On May 30, 1995, a Piper PA-28-180 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Byers, CO. 4 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- May 30, 1995
- Place
- Byers, CO
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 4 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 39.709°N, 104.220°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001207X03443
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 29, 1995, at 2115 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28- 180, N55114, was destroyed upon impact with the ground following a loss of control near Byers, Colorado. The non-instrument rated private pilot and his three passengers were fatally injured. The flight departed Alliance, Nebraska. Instrument meteorological condition prevailed throughout the area for the personal night cross country flight for which no flight plan was filed. The pilot originated his trip from Linton, North Dakota, at 1730. Prior to his departure, the pilot received a telephonic weather briefing at 1029 from the Grand Forks AFSS. The pilot was briefed on the forecasted conditions for his destination and told that VFR was not recommended. The airplane made two scheduled refueling stops on the return trip to the Meadow Lake Airport, near Falcon, Colorado. The first refueling stop was made at 1750 at the Mobridge Municipal Airport, near Mobridge, South Dakota, which is approximately 40 miles from the point of departure. The airport manager stated that the airplane was topped off with 48.2 gallons of 100LL fuel (Aircraft fuel capacity is 48.0 gallons). The airport manager further stated that the airport at Linton, North Dakota, was unattended and did not have any refueling services. The second stop was made at 1915 at the Alliance Airport, near Alliance, Nebraska. The airplane was again topped off with 30 gallons of 100LL fuel and the pilot updated his weather. The weather for Colorado Springs at 1910 (0110Z) was reported by Pan Am Systems as a measured ceiling of 400 foot broken, w
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND THE SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS WERE THE LOW CEILINGS, THE DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL INSTRUMENT TIME.
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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.
