Piper PA-46-350P accident near Greeley, Colorado, August 24, 2010
On August 24, 2010 at about 3:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-46-350P, registered N4167A, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Greeley, Colorado (Greeley-Weld County airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 2010 · about 3:40 pm local time
- Place
- Greeley, Colorado · Greeley-Weld County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-46-350P · all PA-46-350Ps on the register
- Registration
- N4167A · registry record · serial 46-36254
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot taxied the airplane to a self-service fueling facility where he added 84 gallons of fuel to the 20 gallons already in the tanks. He became distracted and forgot to replace the right fuel tank cap. He departed with the right fuel tank selected, and the auxiliary boost pump on. Approximately 100 feet above the runway, he retracted the landing gear and flaps and the engine lost power. He established a controlled glide back to the runway, but didn't have time to lower the landing gear. The airplane landed with the wheels-up and veered off the right side of the runway. A postaccident examination disclosed the pressure vessel had been compromised. The right fuel tank cap was later found on the taxiway. No fuel stains were noted on the wing. The engine was later functionally tested at various power settings, including full power, and no anomalies were noted.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Landing gear not configured during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action sequence › Pilot
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,495 hours in all; 943 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 3,298 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 23, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,049 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 11, 2009; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AE2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Williams Mirage LLC
The flight
- Departed from: GXY Greeley CO
- Destination: BJC Broomfield CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 16, 10,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft; a few clouds at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.51 inHg
- Observation at 3:35 pm from GXY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.