Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On Friday, April 16, 1993, at approximately 2100 mountain daylight time, (all times are adjusted to mountain daylight time unless otherwise noted), a Piper PA-28-181, N38481,

impacted the ground approximately five miles east of Elbert, Colorado. The private, non instrument rated pilot and passenger received fatal injuries and the aircraft was destroyed. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the

accident site and no flight plan was filed for this personal cross country flight to Colorado Springs, Colorado, which originated from Waterloo, Iowa.

On April 15, 1993, at 2137, the pilot of N38481, received an outlook briefing from Fort Dodge, Iowa, Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) for a flight from Waterloo, Iowa, (ALO),to Grand Island, Nebraska, (GRI), direct to Colorado Springs,(COS). On April 16th, at 0909, the same person received a full brief for the flight. On the same date, at 1127, an updated briefing was given.

At 1636 on April 16, the pilot of N38481 called Columbus, Nebraska, AFSS by telephone, and obtained a pre flight brief for a VFR flight from GRI to COS.

According to the attached fueling order, N38481, stopped for fuel at Central Nebraska Regional Airport, Grand Island, Nebraska, where 29.4 gallons of 100LL aviation grade fuel was purchased. The time stamp on the fuel ticket was 1743. According to persons at the fueling facility, the aircraft departed 10 to 15 minutes after fueling was completed.

At 1812, N38481 made initial contact with Minneapolis, Minnesota, Air Route Traffic Control Center, (ARTCC), and requested VFR flight following to Colorado Springs, at 6,500 feet above mean sea level, (msl). The controller issued the aircraft a discreet transponder beacon code of 2625, and at 1818 Denver ARTCC accepted handoff of N38481 from Minneapolis.

At 1940, N38481 was issued a frequency change to another Denver ARTCC transmitter. The pilot reported on the new frequency and was given the Goodland, Kansas, altimeter setting. During this interchange, the pilot of N38481 reported a "little bit choppy ride and a little precipitation." This interchange was followed by Denver ARTCC advising N38481 that there were no current weather reports between the aircraft's position and Colorado Springs.

At 1951, Denver ARTCC advised N38481 of poor radar coverage for a portion of the flight. Denver ARTCC terminated radar coverage and suggested contact with Denver ARTCC on frequency 134.92 in the vicinity of Hugo, Colorado.

At 2031, N38481 repo