NTSB CAROL · Event
Event DEN01LA127
Registry · N6276W
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
PIPER PA-28-140
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A8337D
Registrant of record
CABLE PHILIP L
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
the loss of engine power due to fuel contamination (water). A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain on which to perform a forced landing.
Factual narrative
On July 21, 2001, at approximately 0800 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N6276W, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Calhan Airstrip, Calhan, Colorado. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant in the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was being operated by a private individual under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the cross-country flight that was originating at the time of the accident. According to the pilot's written report, during the pre-flight examination of the airplane, he found no water in the fuel tanks. Approximately 20 seconds after takeoff, at 400 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. He attempted to restart the engine, but was forced to land in a rough/uneven field north of the airport. The right wing spar was bent, and there was substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot said that 3 months prior to the accident, the owner detected moisture in the fuel tanks, and a "drying agent" was added. The airplane was not flown between the addition of the "drying agent" and the accident. A Federal Aviation Administration Air Safety Inspector examined the airplane and found water in the bottom of the carburetor. During the pre-flight examination of the airplane, the pilot found no water in the airplane's fuel tanks. Approximately 20 seconds after takeoff, at 400 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. He attempted to restart the engine, but was forced to land in a rough/uneven field north of the airport. The right wing spar was bent, and there was substantial damage to the firewall. Three months prior to the accident, the owner detected moisture in the fuel tanks and a "drying agent" was added. The airplane was not flown between the addition of the "drying agent" and the accident. Postaccident examination by an FAA Inspector found water in the bottom of the carburetor. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_2001_DEN01LA127.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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