Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On August 23, 2010, approximately 1030 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 310C, N896H, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain four miles southeast of Calhan, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The instructional flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulation Part 91 without a flight plan. The commercial pilot and certified flight instructor (CFI) were fatally injured. The local flight departed Meadow Lake Airport (KFLY), Colorado Springs, Colorado, approximately 1000.

Friends and family members reported that the two pilots departed that morning with the objective of completing a flight review for the commercial pilot. A friend of the CFI reported speaking with him just prior to the flight. It was anticipated that it would be a quick, routine checkride, with no issues.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the airplane was "maneuvering in the practice area" and was receiving radar flight following services from Colorado Springs approach. A review of the radar data revealed that the airplane's radar track initiated at 1000 just east of KFLY at an altitude of 8,300 feet mean sea level (msl). The airplane maneuvered to the south and east of KFLY. The airplane climbed to an altitude of 10,000 feet and initiated a left turn just prior to the track being lost at an altitude of 7,200 feet msl at 1029. The wreckage of the airplane was located in a field just after 1100 by a local resident, directly below the last radar hit.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

Commercial Pilot

The commercial pilot, age 76, held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single engine, multiengine, and instrument ratings. He was issued a special issuance third class airman medical certificate on January 13, 2010. The certificate contained the limitation "not valid for any class after January 31, 2012."

At the time of medical certificate application, the commercial pilot reported a total time of 3,425 hours, 10 hours of which were logged in the preceding six months.

CFI

The CFI, age 60, held an airline transport pilot certificate with a multiengine airplane rating and a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single engine and rotorcraft helicopter ratings. He also held a flight instructor certificate with airplane single and multiengine, airplane instrument, and rotorcraft helicopter ratings. He was issued a first class airman medical certificate on October 13, 2008. The certificate contained no limitations.

At the time of medical certificate application, the CFI reported a total time of 3,850 hours, 140 of which were logged in the preceding six months.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The accident airplane, a Cessna 310C (serial number 35996), was manufactured in 1959. It was registered with the FAA on a standard airworthiness certificate for normal operations. Two Teledyne Continental Motors IO-470-D engines rated at 260 horsepower at 2,625 rpm powered the