Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On June 12, 2004, at 0717 mountain daylight time, a Hispano Aviacion HA-200 SAETA, N611HA, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed when it impacted terrain shortly after taking off from Pueblo Memorial Airport (PUB), Pueblo, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot was fatally injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

According to the pilot's fiance, the purpose of the flight was to take photographs of the airplane for a promotional brochure that was being prepared for the upcoming air show season. The airplane was serviced with 71 gallons of Jet-A fuel, and a Prist additive was added to an undetermined amount of fuel that was already on board the airplane (total fuel capacity is 152 gallons). At 0712, the pilot was cleared to taxi to runway 26L and was issued a transponder code of 0333. At 0716, after requesting touch and go landings, the pilot was cleared for takeoff and to "make left closed traffic runway 26L."

The consensus of witness' interviews and statements indicated the airplane made what appeared to be a normal takeoff, lifting off about halfway down runway 26L (4,073 feet x 75 feet, asphalt). It then rolled steeply to the left and the nose fell through the horizon. The airplane struck the ground, exploded, and burned. The pilot's fiance took two pictures of the takeoff before her attention was diverted by the accident.

The pilot's HA-200 flight instructor was interviewed by an FAA air safety inspector. He said the pilot was "above average...an aggressive pilot in command, [who] knew the aircraft systems well." About the fifth hour of instruction, the pilot expressed a desire to do some aerobatics. The instructor asked him to demonstrate a barrel roll at 12,000 feet. The instructor said that during the maneuver, the pilot lost 6,000 feet and rolled out 70 degrees off heading. The instructor then demonstrated a Cuban-8, an aerobatic maneuver. The lesson ended by the instructor advising the pilot not to perform aerobatics in the HA-200. He suggested that he take basic aerobatic instruction in a slower, more forgiving airplane.

The instructor submitted a written statement (see EXHIBITS) in which he said the pilot "flew well, flew safe, and had a good command authority for his new jet. I was impressed with his command ability and attention to detail." When the pilot said he planned to fly the airplane in air shows, the instructor told him that "low level air show work had huge unforgiving risks involved," and that "aerobatics was totally out of the question." The pilot said he would seek another instructor.

The instructor described the ex-Spanish Air Force trainer as "very docile." The two Turbomeca Marbore II turbojet engines, mounted side by side and forward of the pilot, gave the airplane almost centerline thrust, making an engine failure unrema