Piper PA28 accident near Florence, Colorado, February 2, 2020
On February 2, 2020 at about 8:55 pm local time, a 1967 Piper PA28, registered N5969W, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Florence, Colorado (Fremont County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s decision to continue the takeoff with reduced airplane performance due to high density altitude
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 2, 2020 · about 8:55 pm local time
- Place
- Florence, Colorado · Fremont County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28 150, built 1967 · all PA28s on the register
- Registration
- N5969W · no longer on the register · serial 28-3957
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During takeoff for a local flight, the flight instructor rotated the airplane, but it failed to lift off from the runway. The flight instructor continued the takeoff and rotated the airplane a second time; at that point, the airplane was located near the midpoint of the runway. A witness reported that the airplane’s climb performance was weak. During the climb, the flight instructor recognized that something was wrong and made a 180° turn to land on the runway. The airplane impacted terrain resulting in substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine found no preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operations. A review of meteorological data revealed that the temperature at the time of the accident was the warmest that the pilot had encountered since he purchased the airplane 1 month before the accident. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were consistent with a high density altitude; well above the threshold indicated in guidance at which leaning the fuel mixture is recommended to maintain airplane performance. Postaccident calculations showed that, in the weather conditions at the time, the airplane would have experienced a takeoff distance increase of 140% and a climb performance decrease of 65%. It is not possible to determine, based on the available evidence, whether the instructor adequately leaned the airplane’s fuel mixture for departure and whether that contributed to degraded airplane performance. During a previous flight, the airplane exhibited reduced performance while operating in lower density altitude conditions than those on the day of the accident.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during initial climb
- Loss of control in flight during approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine sea; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 469.6 hours in all; 9.5 in this make and model; 50.5 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 16, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,995.8 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 26, 2019; 9.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1V6 Florence CO at 8:55 pm
- Destination: 1V6 Florence CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 5,399 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 5°F (-15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from K1V6, 30 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR K1V6 022050Z AUTO 28006KT 10SM CLR 24/M15 A2978 RMK AO2=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
13 documents, released by the NTSB on June 1, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Case Findings | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Emails | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Airplane Log Books Pages | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Pilot Log Books | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Accident Density Altitude and Performance Calculations | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Witness Email | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Previous Flight Video | video | View Download |
| 9 | Takeoff Video | video | View Download |
| 10 | Eyewitnesses | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 11 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 12 | Record of Conversation Benker | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 13 | Dispatch Log | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N5969W the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.