3 fatal · PIPER PA 28-235 · 2014-06-30 · Georgetown, CO, USA
Event
NTSB number
CEN14FA328
Event ID
20140630X24850
Type
Accident
Date
2014-06-30
Location
Georgetown, CO, USA
Coordinates
39.709583, -105.689254
Injuries
Highest injury
FATL
Fatal
3
Serious
0
Minor
0
Uninjured
0
Total aboard
3
Aircraft
Make
PIPER
Model
PA 28-235
Registration
N8814W
FAR Part
091
Engines
1
Damage
DEST
Conditions
Light
DAYL
Weather
VMC
Probable cause
The pilot’s inability to maintain a climb while maneuvering the airplane in high-density altitude conditions that degraded the airplane’s climb performance and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle-of-attack, which led to an aerodynamic stall and loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning and his decision to fly into mountainous terrain.