Piper PA32R accident near Canon City, Colorado, November 20, 2020
On November 20, 2020 at about 1:30 am local time, a 2000 Piper PA32R, registered N4187H, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Canon City, Colorado (Fremont County Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the alternator drive belt, which resulted in insufficient electrical power to extend the landing gear and a subsequent gear-up landing. .
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 20, 2020 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Canon City, Colorado · Fremont County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA32R 301T, built 2000 · all PA32Rs on the register
- Registration
- N4187H · registry record · serial 3257196
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a night instructional flight, the pilot receiving instruction and flight instructor noticed the battery warning light illuminate. The ammeter showed that the battery was not charging and indicated 24 volts. They checked the circuit breakers, the alternator switch, and the master switch; all appeared normal and/or in the ON position. They elected to return to the departure airport. Before landing, the pilot receiving instruction lowered the landing gear handle and advised that the landing gear was down; all the lights flickered, and the instrument panel went dark. During landing, the flight instructor noticed that the propeller had stopped and heard the sound of grinding, then realized that the landing gear was retracted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the alternator drive belt had failed and was found loose in the engine compartment.
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
- Electrical system malf/failure during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Electrical power system › Alternator › generator drive sys › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Inoperative
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,793 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 1,711 as pilot in command; 1,368 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 12, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 640 hours in all; 134 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 516.7 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 15, 2020
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,032.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 2,032 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 5,381 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.08 inHg
- Observation at 5:58 pm from KFCS, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on June 6, 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1, Flight Instructor | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1, Pilot Receiving Instruction | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Accident Report Pictures | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.