Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On February 23, 2006, approximately 1059 mountain standard time, a Cessna 182E, N9298X, piloted by a commercial pilot, was destroyed when it struck power lines and subsequently impacted terrain 8 miles south-southeast of Austin, Colorado. An explosion and post-impact fire ensued. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was being conducted without a flight plan under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot and 2 passengers on board the airplane sustained fatal injuries. The flight originated at Telluride, Colorado, approximately 0900 and was en route to a private air strip.

According to the pilot's brother, the pilot was flying to an airstrip located near the Gunnison River Farm, the accident location, to do work there. The pilot owned a construction company and was, at the time, working to install a hydro-electric generator at the farm. The two passengers on board the airplane were believed to be employees of the pilot's company. His brother said that the pilot had flown into the nearby airstrip before and had landed at the airstrip to visit the farm only a few days before the accident.

A witness who worked at the farm to which the power lines ran, said he "heard the airplane buzz the ranch." The witness said the airplane then flew into the power lines. After striking the lines there was extensive damage to the airplane. Another witness who managed the ranch said he saw and heard the airplane "buzz the ranch." He said the airplane came in once and was closer to the river (Gunnison River). The airplane came over the ranch a second time, but was closer to the house and orchard where the power lines ran. The witness heard the impact and then saw the airplane "cartwheeling" in the field. Other witnesses in the vicinity of the accident site saw flying metal and the fireball from the explosion.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The 40-year old pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea, and instrument airplane privileges. The pilot also held a flight instructor certificate for single-engine land airplane privileges.

The pilot held a second class medical certificate dated October, 2004. The certificate showed no waivers or limitations.

An examination of the pilot's logbook showed him having 1,556.8 total flying hours, 1,540.1 hours of which were in single-engine airplanes. The logbook also showed that within the 90 days prior to the accident, the pilot logged 18.2 total flying hours, 16.4 hours of which were in the accident airplane. The logbook also showed that within the 30 days prior to the accident, the pilot logged 11.8 hours in the accident airplane.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The airplane was a 1961 Cessna 182E, serial number 18253698. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot and was used for business and pleasure. The airplane's registration was dated September 19, 2005.

The air