You're right. It's a six-cylinder engine. They should have had plenty of
power, unless they had none. Check the prop: does it look as if it was
turning?

Seth

"Bob Gardner" wrote in message
...
A PA-32 is a Cherokee Six or variant. Could have either 260 or 300 horses.

Bob Gardner

"Seth Masia" wrote in message
...
Forced landing. Here's the preliminary dope:

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news...57/detail.html
also http://kutv.com/topstories/local_story_231134313.html

One report says they were en route to Leadville, the highest paved strip
in the US at 10,000 feet.

If this was a Cherokee 160, they were operating at service ceiling. If a
Cherokee 180, they had some reserve. Not speculating here, but that's
the fact.

I've crossed Vail Pass in a rented Cherokee -- but I'm more comfortable
doing it in my own plane, where I have 250 hp and can pop up to 14,000
without a second thought.

Seth
N8100R


"Blanche" wrote in message
...
According to the Denver Post:
"The plane went down east of Vail, in between the resort town and the
10,666-foot summit of Vail Pass, said Suzanne Silverthorn,
community officer for Vail."

The question I have is why were they in that location? The
Eagle-Vail (EGE) airport is west of Vail. Following I-70 (Vail Pass) is
not exactly a good idea, due to the non-stop winding roads. No place
"straight" to land until west of Vail (which is why the airport
is west).

I can only think of 3 reasons- and remember, this is purely
conjecture. I know absolutely nothing more than what's been
reported:

1) scenic tour of the valley
2) student & CFI
3) they didn't know any better

Update from the NBC affiliate:
"EAGLE COUNTY - A Piper PA-32 crashed near I-70 at the summit of Vail
Pass
Friday morning after trying to land in the westbound lanes of the
highway.

The plane touched down on the highway, then hit some trees before
coming to rest on the mountainside about 25 feet up a slope,
said Jamie Wilson, a spokesperson for the town of Vail."

Assuming a 53F temp over there (I'm in Denver), at 11K, that means
13K density altitude. At ground level. At a reasonable flight
altitude of 12.5K to 14K, we're talking 15K-16.8K density altitude.

Current conditions are calm winds, 54F, vis 9 sm, clear sky. Winds have
either been calm or less than 7 mph since 8 pm last night.