Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On March 27, 1999, approximately 0852 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-32-300, N56306, was destroyed when it impacted terrain while maneuvering near Pagosa Springs, Colorado. The private pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The aircraft was being operated by the Foxtrot Flying Club, Inc., of Urbandale, Iowa, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from the Durango-La Plata County Airport, Durango, Colorado, at approximately 0819, and was en route to Perry, Iowa. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the accident area.

According to the Foxtrot Flying Club, the pilot, Dr. Richard A. Miller, rented the aircraft for the purpose of flying himself, his wife and son to Durango for a fishing vacation they had planned. According to Durango airport personnel, the pilot of N56306 arrived with his family on the evening of March 24. Upon their arrival, the pilot requested that the aircraft be topped off with fuel. According to a fuel receipt provided by the airport, N56306's fuel tanks were filled with 36.8 gallons of fuel the following morning.

According to FAA records, the pilot of N56306 requested a weather briefing from the Denver Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) on the evening of March 26 for a VFR flight from Durango to Des Moines, Iowa. The briefer advised the pilot that VFR flight was not recommended, with AIRMETs (airman's meteorological information) for mountain obscurement along the mountains of Colorado, moderate isolated severe turbulence below 16,000 feet, and occasional moderate rime or mixed icing from 10,000 to 24,000 feet. When asked by the pilot what the conditions would be like for the following day, the briefer advised the pilot that a cold front was moving into Colorado, with low pressure moving from western Colorado out to the east, and rain showers and thunderstorms across western Kansas and southern Nebraska. He stated that IFR conditions were likely to be present in the morning hours along all of eastern Colorado and most of Nebraska.

At approximately 0600 on the morning of March 27, the pilot again requested a weather briefing from Denver AFSS along the same route of flight. The pilot was advised that a frontal system was moving through Colorado, with a chance of thunderstorms over western Kansas and Nebraska throughout the morning and afternoon. He was advised that VFR flight was not recommended, with AIRMETs for mountain obscurement through the mountains of Colorado and precipitation throughout the day, occasional moderate turbulence throughout the route, and occasional moderate rime or mixed ice from the freezing level to 20,000 feet in clouds and precipitation.

According to a National Car Rental receipt, Dr. Miller returned his rental car at the Durango Airport at 0758 on the morning of March 27. During the investigation, no witnesses were found that observed the actual departure of N56306 from Durango.

On March 29, 1999, approximately