Piper PA-32RT-300 accident near Leadville, Colorado, June 30, 1992
On June 30, 1992 at about 9:05 pm local time, a Piper PA-32RT-300, registered N109RH, was destroyed in an accident near Leadville, Colorado (Lake County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR WIND CONDITIONS AND MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. FACTORS INCLUDED: THE PILOT ALLOWING THE AIRPLANE TO LIFT OFF PREMATURELY, AND GUSTY CROSSWINDS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 1992 · about 9:05 pm local time
- Place
- Leadville, Colorado · Lake County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32RT-300 PA-32RT-30 · all PA-32RT-300s on the register
- Registration
- N109RH · registry record · serial 32R-7885070
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS TAKING OFF ON RUNWAY 16 WITH FLAPS SET AT 25 DEGREES. PRIOR TO REACHING ROTATION SPEED, THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF AND A CROSSWIND DRIFTED IT LEFT. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A RUNWAY MARKER, BECAME AIRBORNE, HIT A TREE, IMPACTED THE GROUND, AND SLID INTO A RAVINE.
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: 1,194 hours in all; 422 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1,194 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,327 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 8, 1992; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LXV
- Destination: MTJ Montrose CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 5,300 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 10 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.