Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn October 27, 2014, about 0740 mountain daylight time (MDT), a Mooney M20F airplane, N3539X, was substantially damaged when it impacted the ground just north of the Boulder Municipal Airport (KBDU), Boulder, Colorado. A postimpact fire ensued. The airline transport pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (KBJC), Denver, Colorado.

According to family and friends of the pilot, he was taking the airplane to KBJC to have routine maintenance performed on the airplane. Several witnesses reported seeing the airplane as it took off from runway 08 (4,100 feet by 75 feet, asphalt). Shortly after liftoff, the airplane banked to the left and continued to the north in a steep bank and a nose low attitude. The airplane impacted the ground, nearly vertical, and came to rest on the north edge of Independence Road, just north of KBDU.

Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) took statements from 3 witnesses. These witnesses observed the airplane in different phases of flight. None of the witnesses reported or recalled hearing anything unusual or abnormal prior to the accident.

Three additional witnesses provided written statements to local law enforcement officers. Two of these witnesses observed the airplane take off, bank to the left, and continue rolling inverted until it impacted the road. The third witness did not see the airplane in the air. This witness heard the engine accelerate and then "quiet" before the "thump" or impact with the ground. The witness commented that the sound was not right just prior to the impact with the ground. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe pilot, age 35, held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single engine land and sea ratings and an airline transport pilot certificate with airplane multiengine land privileges and a type rating in an EMB-145. He also held a flight instructor certificate with an airplane single engine rating. He was issued a first class airman medical certificate without limitations on October 3, 2014.

The pilot's family provided investigators three of his logbooks for review. The most recent logbook was maintained digitally. A review of the logbook indicated that the pilot had logged no less than 3,438 hours total time; 1,151 hours as pilot in command. On the pilot record for his insurance application, the pilot wrote that he successfully completed a flight review or equivalent in February 2014. A review of his digital logbook did not illustrate which airplane this was conducted in or if it was part of training with his employer.

The pilot completed a 2 hour checkout flight with a flight instructor on September 27, 2014