Piper PA-28RT-201T accident near Alamosa, Colorado, April 3, 1989
On April 3, 1989 at about 3:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-28RT-201T, registered N48DL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Alamosa, Colorado. 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
FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE TERRAIN CONDITION IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 3, 1989 · about 3:40 pm local time
- Place
- Alamosa, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- N48DL · no longer on the register · serial 28R-8231025
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING FLT AT 16,000 FT, THE ENG LOST POWER & BEGAN VIBRATING. THE PLT CONTACTED ARTCC & ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTIONS TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING AT THE ALAMOSA ARPT. HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE ARPT & SELECTED A FIELD ABOUT 1 MI AWAY.DURING THE LANDING, THE ACFT ENCTRD SVRL IRRIGATION DITCHES & THE GEAR COLLAPSED. AN EXAM REVEALED THE ENG CRANKSHAFT HAD FAILED AT THE #2 & #3 JOURNALS. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE #2 PIN HAD FAILED FROM FATIGUE, THEN THE #3 PIN FAILED FROM OVERLOAD.
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: 1,530 hours in all; 1,400 in this make and model; 47 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 1,530 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,314 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 3, 1988; 126 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-FB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APA Englewood CO at 2:00 pm
- Destination: FMN Farmington NM
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 14,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N48DL the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.