Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On June 6, 2010, approximately 0715 mountain daylight time, a Beech G35, N887M, was substantially damaged upon impact with terrain while maneuvering to land at a private airfield near Marble, Colorado. The private pilot was fatally injured, one passenger was seriously injured, and one passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was owned and operated by a private individual. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight departed the private airstrip approximately 0630.

The two passengers were interview by the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) and two inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Both passengers reported that the local flight was uneventful until the airplane attempted to land on the airstrip. They stated that the pilot lowered the landing gear and began looking for the airstrip. The passengers described that the sun had risen above the eastern ridge line and the airplane was flying towards the sun making forward visibility difficult. The passenger stated, the pilot said he had "overshot" the landing area and the airplane began a left turn. The airplane's flight path headed towards rising terrain and the passengers stated that the pilot initiated a climb at the last moment, but was not successful. The airplane collided with several tall aspen trees before impacting terrain. The passengers both stated that the engine sounded normal throughout the flight and that the pilot did not remark about any aircraft malfunction.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot, age 38, held a private pilot certificate for airplane single engine land issued on November 1, 2006, and a third-class airman certificate without limitations issued on May 25, 2006. The pilot’s logbook and notepad containing flight times were recovered for examination. Logs revealed that the pilot had logged approximately 521 total hours and approximately 23 hours in make and model. The pilot’s last flight review occurred on May 4, 2008, in a Cessna 182. On May 2, 2010, the pilot flew 1.3 hours in the accident airplane and received an endorsement to operate high performance airplanes. In an interview with an FAA inspector, the certified flight instructor who performed the high performance endorsement flight stated that the flight on May 2, 2010, was not flown as a flight review.

In addition, a review of the pilot’s log book showed that he had not operated airplanes in mountainous terrain. He had performed one landing to the airstrip a few days prior to the accident, but was not familiar with the local area.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The four-seat, low wing, retractable gear airplane, serial number D-4747, was manufactured in 1956. It was powered by a 225 horsepower Teledyne Continental Motors E-225-8 engine, serial number 31032-D-1-8, driving a metal two-bladed Beech 215-107 constant spee