Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On January 24, 2001, at 1800 mountain standard time, a Cessna 182K, N2898R, was destroyed when it impacted trees and terrain during an encounter with weather while descending near Elbert, Colorado. The airplane was owned by a private individual and operated by the pilot. The instrument rated private pilot and the non-instrument rated private pilot sustained fatal injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The night cross-country flight originated at 1729 from the Tri-County Airport, Erie, Colorado, and was destined for the Meadow Lake Airport, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

According to friends/family of the pilots, the airplane was based at the Meadow Lake Airport. Approximately 1500, on the day of the accident, the airplane departed Colorado Springs, flew to Boulder, Colorado, and then to Erie. No record was found of the pilot receiving a pre-flight weather briefing from a flight service station.

According to radar data, at 1729:09, the airplane departed from Erie and its transponder was sending a 1200 (VFR) code. There was no record found of the flight contacting air traffic control, nor was it required to do so. The airplane climbed to 9,200 feet and flew a heading in the direction of the Meadow Lake Airport. At 1756:53, the airplane initiated a 250 foot per minute rate of descent. At 1800:55, the final radar image was received 11 miles north of the Meadow Lake Airport, at 8,200 feet msl (500 feet agl). Prior to the last radar return, the airplane had been in a constant rate of descent. The accident site was located approximately 3 miles south of the last radar image, and 8 miles north-northwest of the destination airport.

A witness, who lives near the accident site, reported that at the time of the accident, dense fog conditions were occurring. He stated that the visibility was less than 50 yards.

At 2031, an emergency locator transmitter signal was received by another aircraft. A search was conducted and the aircraft was found on January 25, 2001, approximately 0615.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot, who was seated in the left seat, was issued a private pilot certificate (single-engine land) on May 31, 1998, and an instrument rating on November 17, 2000. According to the pilot's flight logbook, he had accumulated a total of 277.0 hours, of which 31.8 hours were at night, 2.9 hours were in actual instrument conditions, and 30.4 hours were under simulated instrument conditions. The logbook revealed that during the three months prior to the accident, the pilot had accumulated a total of 0.4 hours of flight in actual instrument conditions and 11.7 hours under simulated instrument conditions. Additionally, the pilot's most recent third class medical certificate was dated March 11, 1998, and it did not contain limitations or waivers.

The pilot, who was seated in the right seat, was issued a pr