Accident Details
Date
Wednesday, May 1, 1991
NTSB Number
DEN91FA065
Location
BENNETT, CO
Event ID
20001212X16973
Coordinates
39.739822, -104.780685
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
Highest Injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
1
Probable Cause and Findings
IN-FLIGHT SEPARATION OF THE LEFT ENGINE COWL ASSEMBLY THAT WAS NOT PROPERLY LATCHED, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN MINIMUM CONTROL SPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION, INADEQUATE MARKINGS/ALIGNMENT INDICATIONS TO ASSURE THAT THE COWL FASTENERS WERE LOCKED, AND AN INSUFFICIENTLY DEFINED PROCEDURE IN THE FLIGHT MANUAL FOR CHECKING THE COWL FASTENERS.
Aircraft Information
Registration
N7407L
Make
PIPER
Serial Number
31-790
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Registered Owner (Historical)
Name
JOHN WESTBROOK INC
Address
7395 S PEORIA HANGAR 8
Status
Deregistered
City
ENGLEWOOD
State / Zip Code
CO 80112
Country
United States
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# DEN91FA065