Piper PA-32-300 accident near Vail, Colorado, August 19, 2005
On August 19, 2005 at about 3:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N4222R, was destroyed in an accident near Vail, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper in-flight planning and decision making and failure to maintain clearance from the terrain. Contributing factors include the pilot's attempt to takeoff from the highway, high density altitude, the downdrafts, and the sign.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 19, 2005 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Vail, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N4222R · no longer on the register · serial 32-40587
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he was flying eastbound along Interstate 70 with the intention of taking pictures. The pilot stated they encountered several "extreme" downdrafts and were unable to maintain altitude. The pilot stated he performed a "touch and go" landing in the eastbound lane of the interstate and was able to fly 50 to 75 feet above the road. The airplane encountered another downdraft, impacted the eastbound lane of the interstate, impacted a highway sign and bounced over the concrete barrier, traveled across the westbound lane of the interstate and came to rest off of the road, substantially damaging the airplane. The terrain at the accident location sloped up towards the north, east and south. The temperature 21 miles south of the accident location was recorded as 57 degrees Fahrenheit. Density altitude was calculated to be 11,067 feet.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 663 hours in all; 583 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 604 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,563.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2004; 229 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-KIA5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RKS Rock Springs WY at 2:40 pm
- Destination: LXV Leadville CO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.42 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from LXV, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.