Piper PA-28-140 accident near Calhan, Colorado, July 21, 2001
On July 21, 2001 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N6276W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Calhan, Colorado (Calhan 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 loss of engine power due to fuel contamination (water). A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain on which to perform a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 21, 2001 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Calhan, Colorado · Calhan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N6276W · registry record · serial 28-20326
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the pre-flight examination of the airplane, the pilot found no water in the airplane's fuel tanks. Approximately 20 seconds after takeoff, at 400 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. He attempted to restart the engine, but was forced to land in a rough/uneven field north of the airport. The right wing spar was bent, and there was substantial damage to the firewall. Three months prior to the accident, the owner detected moisture in the fuel tanks and a "drying agent" was added. The airplane was not flown between the addition of the "drying agent" and the accident. Postaccident examination by an FAA Inspector found water in the bottom of the carburetor.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,077 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,064 as pilot in command; 94 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 4, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 0.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-F2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5V4 Calhan CO at 2:00 pm
- Destination: OOV Colorado Sprgs CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 4,565 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 11,000 ft; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 pm from COS, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.