N5372T

On August 28, 1994, between 0950 and 1300 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N5372T, sustained substantial damage while maneuvering near Trinidad, Colorado. The pilot received no injuries and his passenger serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this cross country flight and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated in Garden City, Kansas, with a planned destination of San Diego, California.

The lack of definition regarding the time of the accident is due to differences in what the pilot reported, witnesses observation, and the approximate time a "MAY DAY" was heard over flight watch frequency. The pilot said the accident occurred at 0950. According to the flight watch call, the accident occurred about 1130, and according to eyewitnesses, the accident occurred about 1300. The departure time from Garden City, could not be confirmed.

According to the pilot, he had the fuel tanks filled to the tabs prior to departure from Garden City. The FAA inspector who examined the wreckage stated that the left tank was about 1/3 full and the right tank about 1/2 full.

In the attached pilot operator report of the accident, the pilot said he lost a small amount of power and was attempting to clear high terrain when the student pilot flying with him pulled back on the controls and stalled the aircraft.

In a written statement, which is attached, a witness said the aircraft made several low passes around the area of the accident and at one point the pilot "smiled and waved to them." According to the witness, while the aircraft was making low passes and just prior to impact, something white came off the aircraft. The witness, who is a private pilot, said that there was no discernable power loss.

Examination of the aircraft, including the engine, provided no evidence of mechanical failure or malfunction and the only item missing was a wheel skirt off the nose wheel.

According to the FAA inspector who examined the accident site, there were wheel marks for about 450 feet following initial ground contact followed by impact witness marks on a barb wire fence. This person stated that it appeared the aircraft had attempted a landing.