Piper PA38 accident near Peyton, Colorado, April 13, 2011
On April 13, 2011 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Piper PA38, registered N107WC, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Peyton, Colorado (Meadow Lake Airport). It was a personal 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
The pilot's loss of directional control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 2011 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Peyton, Colorado · Meadow Lake Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA38 112 · all PA38s on the register
- Registration
- N107WC · no longer on the register · serial 3878A0261
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during landing the airplane encountered gusty wind and drifted to the left. He attempted to go-around by applying full power, but the airplane veered to the left, exited the runway, struck terrain, and nosed over. The airplane's left wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
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 control in flight during landing defining event
- Runway excursion during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Cabin safety event during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,222 hours in all; 382 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 2,190 as pilot in command; 1,055 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 30, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,268 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 10, 2010; 95 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,128 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FLY Peyton CO at 5:30 pm
- Destination: FLY Peyton CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 6,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 8 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 5:45 pm from KFLY
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.