Piper PA-28RT-201T accident near 15Mi. NE Of Chr, Colorado, August 16, 1982
On August 16, 1982 at about 12:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28RT-201T, registered N3072Z, was destroyed in an accident near 15Mi. NE Of Chr, Colorado. 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 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
- August 16, 1982 · about 12:00 pm local time
- Place
- 15Mi. NE Of Chr, Colorado
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28RT-201T PA-28RT-20 · all PA-28RT-201Ts on the register
- Registration
- N3072Z · registry record · serial 28R79311783
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE EN ROUTE, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER, AND SUBSEQUENTLY, THERE WAS A TOTAL POWER LOSS. THE PILOT LANDED IN A SMALL CLEARING, BUT DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR HIT A LARGE ROCK. THE GEAR FAILED AND PUNCTURED A HOLE IN THE FUEL TANK. THE AIRCRAFT STOPPED NEAR THE EDGE OF A CLIFF. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER STOPPING, HE SAW A TRAIL OF FLAME ABOUT 8 INCHES WIDE HEADING TOWARD THE PLANE. HE STATED THAT HE JUMPED OUT OVER THE WING AND DOWN THE CLIFF, THEN A FEW MOMENTS LATER THERE WERE 2 LOUD EXPLOSIONS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED BY A POST CRASH FIRE. THE PILOT STAYED WITH THE PLANE UNTIL THE NEXT DAY, THEN ELECTED TO WALK OUT. HE REPORTED BECOMING DISORIENTED AND SPENT 3 DAYS IN THE MOUNTAINS BEFORE REACHING HELP. THE PLANE CRASHED AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 9500 FT.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 711 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 680 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,450 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-FB (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: P16 Mesa AZ at 2:30 am
- Destination: IML Imperial NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 140°F (60°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.