Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On January 24, 2003, at 1720:36 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-31T, N360LL, registered to and operated by Lee Larson Aircraft Sales of Northglenn, Colorado, and a Cessna 172P, N52241, registered to EDB Air, Inc., and doing business as Key Lime Flights of Englewood, Colorado, collided in midair over Denver, Colorado. The commercial pilot-in-command and the commercial certificated pilot-passenger aboard N360LL and the private pilot and two passengers aboard N52241 were fatally injured. The Denver Police Department (DPD) reported that six persons on the ground, including a 15-year old boy and a 2-year old girl, received minor injuries from falling debris. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and neither pilot had filed flight plans. Both flights were being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91. N5224's flight originated at Centennial Airport, Englewood, Colorado, at 1708, and was en route to Cheyenne, Wyoming. N360LL's flight originated at Jeffco Airport, Broomfield, Colorado, at 1716, and was en route to Centennial Airport.

At 1708, the pilot of N52241 was cleared for takeoff from Centennial Airport's runway 17L, and to proceed VFR (visual flight rules) "on course." At 1716, the pilot of N360LL was cleared for takeoff from Jeffco Airport's runway 29R, VFR, with a southbound departure. At 1717:52, the pilot of N360LL contacted Denver Terminal Radar Control (TRACON) and advised "We're just off Jeffco, down to Centennial." [At this point, radar data indicated N52241 was about 10 miles northwest of Centennial, its transponder transmitting a beacon code of 1200 (VFR)]. At 1718:04, the controller assigned the pilot a transponder beacon code of 5250. At 1718:26, he identified the airplane on radar: "Cheyenne Zero Lima Lima, radar contact, four (miles) south of Jeffco. Proceed as requested. [Note: According to NTSB's Operational Factors Division (AS-30), "proceed as requested" does not constitute an ATC clearance, which requires an aircraft to proceed under conditions specified by ATC, nor was one required because the pilot was operating in Class E airspace under visual flight rules.] I'm not getting any mode C on you. You squawking altitude?" The pilot replied, "Ah, yes, sir, we are." [At this point, radar data indicated N360LL was 10.73 miles from N52241]. At 1718:34, the controller asked the pilot for his altitude. He replied he was at 7,800 feet. [Radar data indicated the N360LL's mode C was still inoperative and it remained so throughout the flight. The radar-computed ground speed indicated "23," or 230 knots.]

At 1718:58, the pilot of N52241 contacted Denver Terminal Radar Control (TRACON): "Denver, Cessna Five Two Two Four One is over Denver at seven thousand, three hundred feet, with a request." The controller issued the pilot a transponder beacon code of 5251. The pilot acknowledged the instruction and requested clearance to climb to 8,500 feet, which would place the airplane in Class B airspace. He also advised he