N323DT – Piper PA-32-300 – 1999-09-19 NTSB Accident Report

On September 19, 1999, a Piper PA-32-300 (N323DT) was involved in an incident near Rifle, CO. All 3 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during landing roll. Factors were the strong crosswind weather conditions, and the runway sign that the airplane impacted.

On September 19, 1999, at 1615 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300, N323DT, was substantially damaged during landing roll at Garfield County Regional Airport, Rifle, Colorado. The non-instrument rated private pilot and his two passengers were not injured. The airplane was being operated by the pilot under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight that originated from Aspen, Colorado, approximately 30 minutes prior to the accident. No flight plan had been filed.

According to the pilot, weather conditions along his route of flight to Las Vegas, Nevada, had deteriorated, and he wanted to land to let the weather pass. He said that the airport's unicom reported winds at 340 degrees at 30 knots, gusting to 35 knots.

This incident is documented in NTSB report DEN99LA167. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N323DT.