Piper PA-32-300T accident near Del Norte, Colorado, June 18, 1997
On June 18, 1997 at about 6:38 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-300T, registered N8056Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Del Norte, Colorado (Del Norte 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
The pilot's failure to attain proper runway alignment. Factors were his attention being diverted by a rough running engine because the fuel injectors were partially blocked.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 18, 1997 · about 6:38 pm local time
- Place
- Del Norte, Colorado · Del Norte · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300T · all PA-32-300Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8056Y · no longer on the register · serial 328224004
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said that during his decent into Del Norte, Colorado, the engine began running rough 'with almost a total loss of power.' Although the engine continued to operate, attempts to restore full power were unsuccessful. The pilot said that his attention was diverted by the rough running engine, and he inadvertently allowed the airplane to touch down with the nose and right main landing gear on the runway and the left main landing gear on the runway shoulder. When he attempted to return the airplane to the runway, the left main landing gear struck the lip of a taxiway and collapsed. Postaccident examination of the engine disclosed the fuel injector nozzles were partially blocked by a gummy residue.
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: 791 hours in all; 703 in this make and model; 85 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,458 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 29, 1996; 281 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,617 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TI0-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DRO Durango CO at 5:30 pm
- Destination: 8V1
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 3,775 ft by 49 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:00 pm from ALA, 29 miles away
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.