NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On April 16, 1993, at approximately 2217 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N7536R, impacted the ground approximately seven miles northwest of Falcon, Colorado. The student pilot received fatal injuries and the aircraft was destroyed. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site and a VFR flight plan was filed for this student pilot solo cross country flight to Rapid City, South Dakota, which departed Colorado Springs, Colorado, at 2157.

At 0635, on April 16, 1993, the instructor of N7536R called the Denver Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) by telephone, and obtained an outlook brief for a student's VFR flight from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Rapid City, South Dakota. A transcript of that call is attached.

At 1827, the pilot of N7536R called the Denver AFSS by telephone, filed a VFR flight plan, and obtained a pre-flight pilot brief for a VFR flight from Colorado Springs, to Rapid City. A transcript of that conversation is attached, and provides information the weather conditions were forecast to be visual for the time period in which the accident took place.

At 2210, Colorado Springs tower activated a VFR flight plan on N7536R.

According to the attached transcript, at 2219 Colorado Springs tower asked flight service, by telephone, if they were working N7536R as he had dropped off their radar after asking for vectors around clouds which the tower informed the pilot they could not see.

Witnesses in the area of the accident site heard what they described as a small plane during the time period when the accident occurred. They stated that they heard a plane pass at a low altitude and that the sky conditions were snow and fog with visibility of 10 to 20 feet.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

According to the pilot's log, he started flight instruction on January 23, 1993, in PA-28-140, N7536R, and had flown all instructional flights in that aircraft with the exception of two which were conducted in a Cessna 172, N737XW. On March 30, 1993, his log was signed by his flight instructor, Mr. Glenn Sommer, CFI number 185467462, finding him competent to conduct solo flights in the PA-28. On April 16, 1993, the day of the accident, Mr. Sommer signed the pilot's log indicating he was satisfactory to undertake solo cross country flights in the PA-28. Details of flight experience can be found in this document.

According to documents found in the pilot's log, the pilot held a third class medical and student pilot certificate issued on March 30, 1993.

Information provided in the pilot log did not include any indication that the pilot had received any instruction in instrument flying and he had not conducted any night solo flights.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

This aircraft was equipped for instrument flight, but was not equipped with anti ice or deice equipment.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

Weather information is attached and indicates that a weather pattern containing rain and possible significant weather was forecast during the time period in which the flight was to occur, but visual meteorological conditons were to be present out of weather patterns.

COMMUNICATIONS

The aircraft was in communication with Colorado Springs tower but contact with Denver radio was never established following departure.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

The aircraft impacted the ground with witness marks and wreckage distribution leaving a track of 185 degrees. The wreckage was distributed over an area approximately 200 feet in length and 30 feet in width, with evidence of a post impact fire over the last half of the wreckage distribution pattern. The initial impact ground scar contained fragments of green glass. Approximately 20 feet beyond this scar, a gouge was present which contained the propeller and material from the engine compartment. Numerous aircraft components were distributed from this point to the main wreckage which sustained fire damage. Photographs are attached which provide details of the wreckage distribution.

ADDITIONAL DATA/INFORMATION

The wreckage was released to Mr. Myron Carlson, President, Interstate Aviation Claims Service, on April 17, 1993. No parts were retained.

NTSB Probable Cause

INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE STUDENT PILOT BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR. FACTORS WERE: IMC WEATHER CONDITIONS, DARK NIGHT, INACCURATE WEATHER EVALUATION BY BOTH THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT PILOT, AND INADEQUATE TRAINING OF THE STUDENT PILOT.