Piper PA-28-140 accident near Durango, Colorado, August 18, 1984
On August 18, 1984 at about 12:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N6431R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Durango, Colorado (Animas Air Park 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 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 18, 1984 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Durango, Colorado · Animas Air Park
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N6431R · registry record · serial 28 21611
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A RWY LIGHT DURING TAKEOFF. THE PLT SAID THE ACFT GOT TO ABOUT 6 FT AGL FOR ABOUT 100 FT AND WHENTHE PLT PUSHED FOWARD ON THE CONTROL COLUMN THE ACFT SETTLED BACK ON THE RWY. DURING THE ROLL THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER HIT A RWY LIGHT. THE PLT MAINTAINED THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION OF THE NOSE GEAR. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE CRACK IN THE NOSE GEAR WAS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. FAA DID A FLT CHECK WITH THE PLT AND REPORTED THAT HE USED ONLY THE AILERONS FORCROSS-WIND CORRECTIONS WHILE ON THE RWY. THE RUDDERS AND NOSE WHEEL STEERING WERE NOT USED.
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: 2,075 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 2,041 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,527 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 30, 1984; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: ABQ Albuquerque NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 5,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.