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August 27, 1995 · Piper PA-28-181 · N8450B

Fort Collins, CO

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 27, 1995
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Fort Collins, CO
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-181
Tail Number
N8450B
Operator
P C Flyers
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW95LA369

THE PILOT STATED THAT BEFORE TAKEOFF, HE CALLED FLIGHT SERVICE TO OBTAIN WEATHER INFORMATION AND NOTAMS. AFTER BEING BRIEFED ON NOTAMS FOR THE FORT COLLINS-LOVELAND AIRPORT, HE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE FIRST 400' PORTION OF RUNWAY 33 WAS CLOSED (FOR CONSTRUCTION). ACTUALLY, THE FIRST 4000' PORTION OF THAT RUNWAY WAS CLOSED. WHILE EN ROUTE AT NIGHT, HE ELECTED TO MAKE A TOUCH-AND-GO LANDING ON THAT RUNWAY. DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 2000' SHORT OF THE TEMPORARY THRESHOLD. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE PILOT HEARD A NOISE AND SAW BARRICADES. HE APPLIED POWER AND FLEW OVER THE BARRICADES, BUT FOUND DAMAGE ON THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE FLIGHT. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE RUNWAY WAS PROPERLY MARKED, RUNWAY LIGHTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AREA WERE COVERED, THE THRESHOLD LIGHTS HAD BEEN MOVED TO THE TEMPORARY THRESHOLD, AND PROPER NOTAMS HAD BEEN ISSUED.

NTSB Probable Cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT FOR LANDING. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: A MISREADING OR MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE NOTAMS.

Full Narrative

On August 27, 1995, at 0030 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA- 28-181, N8450B, landed in a runway construction zone at Fort Collins/Loveland Airport, Fort Collins, Colorado. The private pilot was not injured and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred and a VFR flight plan was on file. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this local area personal flight which originated at Centennial Airport, Englewood, Colorado at 2345. The accident occurred on runway 33, of which 4,000 feet of the 8,500 foot runway was closed for repaving. The construction zone was properly marked and NOTAMs (notice to airmen) were on file regarding the partial closure. (Copies of the NOTAMs and an airport diagram are attached). In a telephone interview, the pilot stated that he checked NOTAMs with flight service and was aware of the partial closure of the runway, but thought only 400 feet of the runway was closed. He said he was trying to land as close to the temporary threshold lights as possible and touched down early. Witness marks in the construction zone provided evidence that the aircraft touched down approximately 2,000 feet short of the temporary threshold. The pilot said he heard a loud noise following touch down and added power when he saw barricades in front of the aircraft. He said he flew over the barricades and relanded on the open portion of the runway. He said he then taxied clear of the runway and inspected the aircraft. According to the pilot, the damage did not look serious so he flew the aircraft back to Centennial Airport in Englewood, Colorado. Examination of the aircraft by an FAA inspector provided evidence of compression damage to the leading edge of the right wing, compression damage to the bottom of the right wing, damage to the right wing fuel tank, and a slice in the right flap. Examination of the runway facilities by this investigator provided evidence that the strobe lights were off, the VASI (visual approach slope indicator) was off, the runway lights in the construction zone were covered, and the threshold lights were off, with temporary threshold lights installed at the end of the construction zone. The construction zone consisted of 4,000 feet of asphalt which had been peeled for repaving. Steel rods approximately three quarters of an inch in diameter and 30 inches in height protruded from the centerline of the runway in the construction zone. These were to serve as guide markers for the paving equipment.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time00:30 MDT
Nearest AirportFort Collins/Loveland (1nm SSW)
Runway33
Runway Length8500 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-181
Tail NumberN8450B
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorP C Flyers
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A4M · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 28 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind10° @ 4 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point66 F / 59
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time07:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data