Piper PA-28-140 accident near Colorado Spgs, Colorado, July 3, 1995
On July 3, 1995 at about 10:17 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N55365, was substantially damaged in an accident near Colorado Spgs, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN INADVERTENT WINDSHEAR ENCOUNTER. A FACTOR WAS THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 3, 1995 · about 10:17 pm local time
- Place
- Colorado Spgs, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N55365 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7325385
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF AND CLIMBED TO AN ALTITUDE OF 200 FEET. THE PILOT SAID THAT WHEN HE WAS ABOUT 500 FEET FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY, HE ENCOUNTERED WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS 'WIND SHEAR' OR A 'DOWNDRAFT.' HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A FIELD BUT THE DESCENT RATE FORCED HIM INTO A GRAVEL PIT AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE WIND WAS FROM 230 DEGREES AT 19 KNOTS, WITH GUSTS TO 26 KNOTS. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS COMPUTED TO BE 8,164 FEET MSL. THE 'RATE OF CLIMB VS DENSITY ALTITUDE' PERFORMANCE CHART INDICATES THAT BETWEEN 1,950 POUNDS AND 2,150 POUNDS GROSS WEIGHT, THE AIRPLANE WILL CLIMB BETWEEN 350 AND 430 FEET PER MINUTE. THE AIRPLANE WAS ESTIMATED TO WEIGHT BETWEEN 1,950 AND 2,150 POUNDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 230 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1995; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: COS at 10:10 pm
- Destination: APA Denver CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 19 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:24 pm from COS, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.