Piper PA-24-260 accident near Grand Junction, Colorado, July 8, 1993
On July 8, 1993 at about 5:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-260, registered N8967P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grand Junction, Colorado (Walker Field). 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
FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO FOLLOW MANUAL GEAR EXTENSION PROCEDURES. A FACTOR WAS A TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 8, 1993 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Junction, Colorado · Walker Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-260 · all PA-24-260s on the register
- Registration
- N8967P · no longer on the register · serial 24-4424
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE EN ROUTE ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. AS A RESULT, WHEN THE PILOT PUT THE LANDING GEAR DOWN HE HAD NO GEAR LIGHTS. HE STATED THAT THE MANUAL SYSTEM APPEARED TO BE IN THE PROPER POSITION FOR THE GEAR TO BE DOWN AND LOCKED, BUT DURING LANDING ROLL, HE HAD DIFFICULTY IN MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 1,185 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 1,093 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5CO Durango CO at 4:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 5,501 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm
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.