ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 132151
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can
submit corrected information.
Date: | Tuesday 21 December 1993 |
Time: | 21:18 |
Type: | Piper PA-23-160 Apache |
Owner/operator: | Moran, Charles G. |
Registration: | N4382P |
MSN: | 23-1890 |
Total airframe hrs: | 2798 hours |
Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4 |
Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
Location: | Franktown, CO -
United States of America
|
Phase: | En route |
Nature: | Private |
Departure airport: | SLN |
Destination airport: | APA |
Confidence Rating: | Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
Narrative:HISTORY OF FLIGHT
On December 21, 1993, at 2118 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-23-160, N4382P, conducted a forced landing into a heavily wooded area 3 miles east of Franktown, Colorado. The two pilots and two passengers received serious injuries and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed for this personal flight from Asheville, North Carolina, to Englewood, Colorado. The flight made a fuel stop at Salina, Kansas, prior to the leg which ended with the accident, and picked up an IFR clearance when approaching the Englewood area.
The pilot contacted Denver Approach Control at 2103 and was assigned an altitude of 9,000 feet above mean sea level (MSL). They were given ATIS information lima, (see meteorological portion of this document), and vectors for the ILS (instrument landing system) approach to runway 35 at Centennial Airport. At 2108, a descent to 8,000 feet was given by approach control, and at 2115, the pilot informed approach control they were picking up some ice. At 2116, the pilot informed approach control they were losing an engine and losing altitude. The last communications with the aircraft occurred at 2117. At that time, the pilot was reporting a rough running engine and an altitude of 7,000 feet with intermittent ground contact. (See attached communications transcripts and controller statements).
After radar and communications were lost, an ELT (emergency locator transmitter) was picked up by Denver Center. The crew had attempted a forced landing and the aircraft collided with trees during final approach. Accident site elevation was approximately 6,000 feet MSL.
According to the pilot in command, she was flying and her husband, a commercial airline pilot, was handling the radios. The pilot said, "at approximately 12-13 miles out of Centennial everything happened at once. We had begun to notice a definite drop in ground speed. Sid [the other pilot] said we were starting to get a little buildup of ice. I recall he reported this to DEN approach."
The pilot further stated, "I cannot remember everything that happened. I know we lost some power. There had been no engine problems the entire trip. However, I recall a sudden loss of power and altitude. We were at cruise power and had not throttled back for a descent. I believe we lost power on one engine, but I cannot say which. I remember putting on carb heat and the aux fuel pumps. The other engine was set at full power."
"We waked up both of our sons who were in the rear seats, making them check their seat belts. Everything happened so quickly - the loss of power and altitude. I remember Sid telling DEN approach we were going down. We never lost control of the airplane; there was no stall, no spin."
METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION
Information lima at Centennial Airport was "indefinite ceiling five hundred sky obscured visibility one snow and fog wind zero five zero at seven altimeter three zero zero niner." Temperature and dew point at the time were 21 degrees Fahrenheit.
During the flight, the crew asked for and received several weather reports concerning conditions enroute and at Centennial Airport. That weather information is attached.
WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION
The aircraft came to rest in a clearing after impact with the previously mentioned trees. Both wings were separated outboard of the nacelles and both fuel tanks were compromised. A strong odor of fuel was present throughout the accident site. The right propeller was separated from the engine and both blades were bent rearward on both engines. The fuselage exhibited impact damage both forward and aft of the cabin, and all landing gear were in the up position. Tree particles were imbedded in both the fuselage and wings, and trees along the entry path were scarred and broken.
The cabin interior was intact with the right yoke grips broken off. All restraints remained anchored and did not exhibit separat
Sources:
NTSB id 20001211X13850
Revision history:
Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
21-Dec-2016 19:25 |
ASN Update Bot |
Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
29-Oct-2019 18:43 |
Uli Elch |
Updated [Aircraft type, Narrative] |
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation