Piper PA28R accident near Denver, Colorado, June 28, 2020
On June 28, 2020 at about 3:00 am local time, a 1989 Piper PA28R, registered N811MS, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Denver, Colorado (Rocky Mountain Metro airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total loss of engine power during climbout due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate fuel planning.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 28, 2020 · about 3:00 am local time · cases in 2020
- Place
- Denver, Colorado · Rocky Mountain Metro · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28R 201, built 1989 · all PA28Rs on the register
- Registration
- N811MS · no longer on the register · serial 2837042
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During climbout after a touch-and-go landing maneuver, the pilot reported that the engine hesitated. Suspecting a fuel issue, the pilot attempted to switch fuel tanks, but was unable to reach the fuel selector because the shoulder harness would not release. He abandoned attempts to switch fuel tanks and turned toward flat terrain for a forced landing. The airplane landed in a field adjacent to a tree line, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. Examination of the engine, throttle and mixture controls, and fuel distribution system did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies. About 4.25 total gallons of fuel were drained from the fuel tanks; 4 gallons from the left tank and .25 gallons from the right tank. The airplane flight manual stated that unusable fuel for the airplane is 5 total gallons, 2.5 gallons in each tank for critical flight conditions. It is likely that the reported engine hesitation after takeoff was due to fuel starvation.
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
- Fuel starvation during initial climb
- Fuel related during initial climb defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level other cases naming the fuel system
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 428 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: February 4, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15,144 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 5, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 3,400 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FMM Fort Morgan CO at 2:15 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30R, 9,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 9:20 pm from BJC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on June 24, 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 | NTSB Form 6120 Pilot Operator Report CEN20LA252 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Airport Security Video of Accident CEN20LA252 | AVI file | Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for the Record Engine and Fuel System Examination Findings CEN20LA252 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Piper PA28 AFM Fuel Limitation Excerpt CEN20LA252 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo Array CEN20LA252 | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N811MS: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Piper PA-28 Cherokee, Warrior, Archer and Arrow 18,621 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,840 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 8,559 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Rocky Mountain Metro Airport · nearest airport
- Fort Morgan Municipal · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Colorado 2,860 since 1982 · 383 in the last ten years
- Colorado 7,486 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN20LA252.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.