Piper PA-12 accident near Rye, CO
On August 31, 2012, a Piper PA-12 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Rye, CO. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- August 31, 2012
- Place
- Rye, CO
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 37.965°N, 105.092°W
- NTSB ID
- 20120831X24543
Official records · CEN12FA594
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 31, 2012, about 0920 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-12, N3031M, co-owned by the pilot, was substantially damaged after impacting mountainous terrain near Rye, Colorado. The private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight departed Pueblo Memorial Airport (PUB), Pueblo, Colorado at about 0806. According to law enforcement witnesses, the pilot and passenger arrived overhead their planned surveillance location and established radio contact with law enforcement personnel stationed on the ground. These law enforcement personnel, as well as other witnesses, observed multiple passes of the airplane about 500 to 1,000 feet above ground level, followed by a maneuvering of the airplane towards the west and out of their sight. The airplane subsequently impacted terrain about two miles west of the surveillance area in a heavily wooded area at 10,171 feet. A postimpact fire ensued. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot, age 64, held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. On March 12, 2012, the pilot was issued a Class 3 medical certificate, valid until March 31, 2013. The certificate required corrective lenses be worn. At the time of the medical examination, the pilot reported having 900 hours of flight experience, with 50 hours in the last six months. A review of records indicates the pilot had flown about 140 hours in the accident airplane. The girlfriend of
Probable cause
The pilot’s selection of a flightpath toward rising terrain that exceeded the climb capability of the airplane.
More accidents in CO
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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.
