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NTSB Report
November 4, 1987 · Piper PA-28-181 · N8266U
Durango, CO
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 4, 1987
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (1 fatality, 2 serious injuries)
Location
Durango, CO
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-181
Tail Number
N8266U
Operator
Durango Air Service
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DEN88FA021
THE TWO PAX HAD CHARTERED N8266U FOR A SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT OF THE LOCAL AREA. THE CHARTER PLT, A CFI FOUND THAT ONE OF THE PAX WAS A PLT AND PERMITTED HIM TO FLY THE ACFT. THE PAX EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN SPOTTING ELK AND FLEW THE ACFT INTO A CANYON, BELOW THE CANYON RIDGE LINE. THE ACFT APPROACHED THE END OF THE CANYON AND THE PLT EXECUTED A LEFT TURN. THE BACK SEAT PAX STATED THE STALL WARN HORN SOUNDED DURING THE TURN. THE CFI TOOK CONTROL OF THE ACFT BUT WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER BEFORE THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES. THE TERRAIN RISES TO ABOVE 10,000 FT. THE CALCULATED CLIMB RATE WAS DETERMINED TO BE 200 FT PER MIN APPROX.
Full Narrative
THE TWO PAX HAD CHARTERED N8266U FOR A SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT OF THE LOCAL AREA. THE CHARTER PLT, A CFI FOUND THAT ONE OF THE PAX WAS A PLT AND PERMITTED HIM TO FLY THE ACFT. THE PAX EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN SPOTTING ELK AND FLEW THE ACFT INTO A CANYON, BELOW THE CANYON RIDGE LINE. THE ACFT APPROACHED THE END OF THE CANYON AND THE PLT EXECUTED A LEFT TURN. THE BACK SEAT PAX STATED THE STALL WARN HORN SOUNDED DURING THE TURN. THE CFI TOOK CONTROL OF THE ACFT BUT WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER BEFORE THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES. THE TERRAIN RISES TO ABOVE 10,000 FT. THE CALCULATED CLIMB RATE WAS DETERMINED TO BE 200 FT PER MIN APPROX.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:34 MST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftPiper PA-28-181
Tail NumberN8266U
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorDurango Air Service
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A4A · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4
People & Injuries
Injury Summary3 injuries (1 fatality, 2 serious injuries)
Fatal1
Serious2
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 27 · Second Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility75 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point63 F / 45 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time19:57
Weather SourceWFAC