NTSB CAROL · Event
Event DEN88LA144
Registry · N4878S
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
PIPER PA-32-260
Year of manufacture
1971 · 17 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING O-540-E4B5 (260 hp)
Seats / Engines
6 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20260324
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A6061B
Registrant of record
GARMIN INTERNATIONAL INC
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Factual narrative
THE PLT AND PAX DEPARTED ST. LOUIS AND STOPPED TWICE ENROUTE DUE TO WX. THE PLT WAS GIVEN LANDING CLEARANCE ON RWY 17 AT COLORADO SPRINGS AND THE WIND WAS REPORTED TO BE FROM 190 DEGREES AT 12 KTS. WITNESSES AT THE ARPT STATED N4878S 'PORPOISED' SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE LANDING BEFORE THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. THE PLT WAS RECENTLY CERTIFICATED AND HAD A TOTAL FLIGHT TIME OF 66 HOURS WITH 18 HOURS IN THE PA-32-260. THE PLT WAS INVOLVED IN A SIMILAR ACCIDENT IN KANSAS SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER THIS ACCIDENT. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_1988_DEN88LA144.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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