Piper PA-24-250 accident near Telluride, Colorado, April 8, 2001
On April 8, 2001, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N7736P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Telluride, Colorado (Telluride Regional airport). It was a personal 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 pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during initial climb. Factors include the gusty wind and high density altitude conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 8, 2001
- Place
- Telluride, Colorado · Telluride Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N7736P · registry record · serial 242950
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After takeoff, the pilot retracted the landing gear at about 50 feet above the ground and began his initial climb. A gust of wind struck the airplane, and it descended and struck the runway with the landing gear in the retracted position. At the time of the accident, the winds were from 230 degrees at 9 knots. The two previous weather readings indicated that the winds were variable. At 1352, the winds were 170 to 240 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 21 knots. At 1411, the winds were 150 to 250 degrees at 8 knots. The airfield elevation is 9,070 feet MSL. The altimeter setting was 29.91, and temperature was 1 degree Celcius/33.3 degrees Fahrenheit. Density altitude was 9,551 feet MSL.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 500 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 468 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 19, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,320 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 5, 2001; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,960 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 AID5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TEX Telluride CO at 9:15 pm
- Destination: FFZ Mesa AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 6,870 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 50 ft; clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 9:31 pm from KTEX
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.