Piper PA-24B-260 accident near Westcliffe, CO
On September 25, 1995, a Piper PA-24B-260 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Westcliffe, CO. 5 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 25, 1995
- Place
- Westcliffe, CO
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24B-260 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 5 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 38.130°N, 105.460°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001207X04483
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 24, 1995, at 1913 mountain daylight time (MDT), a Piper PA-24B-260, N9121P, was destroyed when it collided with terrain near Westcliffe, Colorado. The commercial pilot and four passengers were fatally injured. The personal flight, being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, originated at Las Vegas, Nevada, on September 24, 1995, at 1515 Pacific daylight time (PDT). Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and a VFR (visual flight rules) flight plan was filed. The occupants flew to Las Vegas on September 22, and were returning to Colorado Springs, Colorado, when the accident occurred. The following is based on Federal Aviation Administration documents. On the morning of September 22, at 0913 PDT, a person who identified himself as the pilot of N9121P contacted the Reno Flight Service Station (FSS). He declined a standard briefing but requested a route forecast between Las Vegas and Colorado Springs for the time period of 1400. According to the taped recorded conversation, he was advised of an AIRMET (airman meteorology) for occasional moderate rime icing in clouds and precipitation between 8,000 and 17,000 feet; occasional mountain obscurement in clouds and precipitation, and IFR conditions from Pueblo north to Denver. The briefer told the pilot that VFR flight was not recommended in these areas. The forecast for Colorado Springs throughout the afternoon up until 2100 MDT was for scattered clouds at 1,000 feet and a 2,000-foot overcast, with winds from 090 degrees at 8 knots and gusts to 15 knots, and occasional 1,000 foot overcast
Probable cause
VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE OR CLEARANCE FROM MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE LIGHT CONDITIONS AT DUSK, THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE.
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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.
