Piper PA-24-400 accident near Broomfield, Colorado, December 10, 1996
On December 10, 1996 at about 8:26 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-400, registered N8450P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Broomfield, Colorado (Jefferson County airport). It was a business 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 to maintain proper alignment with the runway, while landing. A factor relating to the accident was: the variable/gusty wind condition with possible windshear.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 10, 1996 · about 8:26 pm local time
- Place
- Broomfield, Colorado · Jefferson County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-400 · all PA-24-400s on the register
- Registration
- N8450P · registry record · serial 26-26
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the wind was variable from 230 to 270 degrees at 25 to 35 knots, although the ATIS reported the wind was from 260 degrees at 20 gusting 30 knots. Due to the wind condition (with moderate turbulence), the pilot decided to land 'a little long and 10 knots fast with no flaps.' As he flared for landing, the airplane 'gusted up, then down, with left wing high and strongly to the right.' The airplane struck two VASI light structures, while airborne. After the pilot realigned the airplane with the runway, he landed and the airplane departed the right side of the runway. Airport officials later reported three runway signs and four runway lights damaged.
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: 3,700 hours in all; 2,400 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 3,700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,877 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 15, 1995; 111 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-720-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LAA Lamar CO at 7:01 pm
- Destination: BJC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29R, 9,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:45 pm from BJC
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.