Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On March 26, 2003, at 1817 mountain standard time, a Cessna A185F, N53008, was destroyed when it impacted terrain approximately 20 miles east of Grand Junction, Colorado. The commercial pilot and three passengers were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Walker Field, Grand Junction, Colorado, at 1812, and was en route to Eagle, Colorado.

According to employees at Timberline Aviation, the pilot landed at the airport between 1600 and 1630. He and his passengers left by automobile and were gone for about an hour. When they returned, they loaded a fiberglass shower enclosure into the airplane. At 1810:10, the pilot contacted ground control for taxi clearance. He was given his choice of runways 29 or 22 because the wind was from 230 degrees to 280 degrees at 24 knots. The pilot said he would taxi "half way down two nine and we'll take a look." At 1811:29, the pilot requested and was cleared for takeoff on runway 29 from the taxiway A4 intersection. [According to the controller, 5100 feet of runway was available for takeoff from the A4 intersection.] He was given his choice of a left or right turn to the northeast. The pilot said, "Let's see what the wind does here." The tower controller said that during the takeoff roll, the airplane drifted off the right side of the runway and stirred up a cloud of dust. Witnesses at Timberline Aviation said they, too, saw the dust cloud, but thought it was due to propeller wash or a wind gust. They said it was "windy as hell," and the winds were "howling." The controller said that as soon as the airplane lifted off the runway, it immediately "took on a pronounced crab to the left into the wind." The pilot remarked, "Well, that was gustier than I thought, guys. I would like the left turn out." The controller replied, "...looks pretty rough up there. Left turn out approved." After approving the pilot's request to cross the airport midfield, the controller remarked, "Sure does not look like an attractive flight this evening." The pilot answered, "No, but it is time to go home, so we'll get on up to Eagle. We'll see you guys in a couple of days." This was the last transmission from the pilot, recorded at 1814:26.

On March 27, 2003, approximately 0630, a Vail Jet Center employee coming to work noticed the pilot's automobile parked in the parking lot. The pilot's dog was still inside. He became concerned because she knew the pilot had departed the previous evening. She telephoned the pilot's fiance and learned he did not come home the previous evening. She telephoned FAA's Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) in Denver and reported the airplane missing. At 0722, FAA issued an Alert Notification (ALNOT). On March 28, at 0840, a searching helicopter located the wreckage at a location of 39 degrees, 08.933' north latitude, and 108 degrees, 24.948' we