Piper PA-28-180 accident near Peyton, Colorado, August 31, 1999
On August 31, 1999 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N5172L, was destroyed in an accident near Peyton, Colorado (Meadow Lake Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of control resulting in inadvertent stall/mush during initial climb following takeoff. Factors were the unfavorable, sudden windshift conditions, the high density altitude, and the manufacturer's failure to provide adequate density altitude performance information in the Airplane Flight Manual.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 31, 1999 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Peyton, Colorado · Meadow Lake Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N5172L · no longer on the register · serial 28-4458
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Prior to takeoff, the pilot observed the winds to be out of the northwest at 10 knots, and he selected runway 33 for departure. He performed a density altitude calculation and it was determined to be 9,747 feet msl. Takeoff was normal, and the pilot climbed out at 80 mph. During initial climb, the airspeed dropped to 60 mph. He lowered the nose to gain airspeed and flew the aircraft under a set of power lines. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft impacted slightly inclining terrain. The four occupants exited the aircraft, and the airplane was subsequently consumed by fire. At 1154, the closest reporting weather facility located 10.4 nm to the southwest was reporting the winds to be from 110 degrees at 7 knots. At 1254, the winds were variable at 4 knots. Several pilots in the area reported encountering sudden windshift conditions near the time of the accident. According to calculated weight and balance data, the aircraft was slightly under maximum gross weight and within center of gravity limits at takeoff. There is no performance data in the Airplane Flight Manual for takeoffs above 7,000 feet density altitude.
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: 174 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 106 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 132 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,227 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 10, 1999
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 00V at 6:10 pm
- Destination: LAR Laramie WY
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 33, 6,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 pm from COS, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.