FALCON, CO, USA
N41369
Piper PA28-151
After a night local area personal flight, the pilot was attempting to land at the airport of departure and could not turn on the runway lights by use of the UNICOM. He attempted to land without this aid and the landing was made in a ditch between the runway and taxiway. During landing roll the aircraft struck a culvert. The frequency for the UNICOM had been changed several weeks earlier and this change had been published in NOTAMS, and local air traffic control and flight service had the change published in controller instructions. No evidence was found that the pilot attempted to contact these facilities. Lighting and weather at the time was clear skies and dark night lighting.
On September 24, 1996, at 2030 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA28-151, N41369, landed in a ditch between the runway and taxiway at Meadow Lake Airport (00V), Falcon, Colorado. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed Meadow Lake at 1930. The pilot stated that he could not activate the runway lights and was attempting to land without their aid. The touchdown was in a ditch beside the runway and the aircraft struck a culvert during landing roll causing damage to the propeller, engine cowling, left wing, and nose landing gear. At the time of the accident, weather and light conditions were clear skies with dark night lighting. The UNICOM frequency, by which the pilot can activate the lights from his aircraft, had been changed several weeks earlier and this change had been published in NOTAMS (notice to airmen) and was properly listed in controller information at Colorado Springs Municipal Airport Tower (10 miles west of Meadow Lake), Colorado Springs Approach Control and Flight Service. The pilot stated that he was unaware of the frequency change and had not checked NOTAMS prior to departure. In addition, no evidence was found that he attempted to contact any of the above facilities.
Failure by the pilot to select suitable terrain for landing. Factors were inadequate preflight planning and preparation for the flight by the pilot by failing to check NOTAMS and failing to use communication aids available to him.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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