Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn July 3, 2021, about 1838 mountain daylight time, a Beech G36 airplane, N36JJ, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Aspen, Colorado. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Air traffic control radar and automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) information revealed that the airplane landed about 1353 at Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE), where the pilot and passenger stopped for fuel and lunch. According to air traffic control audio, the pilot requested an instrument flight rules flight plan to Des Moines International Airport (DSM), Des Moines, Iowa. The ground controller issued a clearance that included the LINDZ Nine departure procedure and instructed the pilot to climb and maintain 16,000 ft, which was required for the procedure, and expect to climb to 17,000 ft 10 minutes after departure. The pilot responded that he could not accept 16,000 ft and would instead depart under visual flight rules. The controller asked the pilot if he was going to fly down the valley before proceeding eastbound or northeast through the ridge. The pilot responded that he would make that decision “once we see what’s going on” after departure. The pilot advised that he would make a right turn after takeoff and requested a climb over the airport.
About 1823, the airplane departed ASE and entered an orbit near the airport to climb, and the pilot informed the controller that the airplane would depart to the south-southeast. The tower controller acknowledged this transmission and advised that he would let the pilot know when the airplane was at a high enough altitude to proceed. When the airplane passed through 10,100 ft, the pilot informed the tower that the airplane would depart to the east, stating “we’re above it.” When the flight was 5 miles east of the airport, the tower controller informed the pilot that the airplane was leaving ASE airspace and approved a frequency change. The pilot asked the tower controller to recommend a frequency, but the tower controller did not respond. The airplane’s travel east and southeast put the flight’s likely intended route through Independence Pass. Rather than following Highway 82 to Independence Pass, the airplane’s flight to the east approached a ridgeline before reaching Independence Pass.
A performance study for this accident revealed that, after takeoff, the airplane circled and climbed near the airport to an altitude over 10,000 ft. During that time, the airplane’s groundspeed varied between 110 and 120 knots with a climb rate of 340 to 360 ft per minute (ft/min). The airplane’s operating manual established a climb rate of 375 ft/min. After circling and gaining altitude, the airplane flew east, and the terrain elevation rose as the airplane’s climb rate decreased. About 1836, the airplane’s altitude was 10,820 ft (about 600 ft above ground level)