Piper PA-22 accident near Trinidad, Colorado, January 31, 1982
On January 31, 1982 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-22, registered N3921P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Trinidad, Colorado (Las Animas County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 31, 1982 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Trinidad, Colorado · Las Animas County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22 · all PA-22s on the register
- Registration
- N3921P · registry record · serial 223591
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO VEER LEFT AS THE TAIL CAME UP DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. HE CORRECTED WITH RUDDER, BUT DID NOT MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. AS A GROUND LOOP DEVELOPED, HE NOTED THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT AIRSPEED TO LIFT OFF AND ABORTED. THE AIRCRAFT WENT OFF OF THE RUNWAY, ENCOUNTERED SOFT TERRAIN IN A SHALLOW DEPRESSION, HIT A SMALL BUSH, AND NOSED OVER.
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: 293 hours in all; 25 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,042 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,840 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Fishers Peak Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: TAD Trinidad CO at 1:30 pm
- Destination: TAD Trinidad CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 5,496 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.