Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On June 5, 1999, at 1019 mountain daylight time, a Beech V35A, N68VT, was destroyed following an in-flight collision with terrain while in cruise flight 7 miles northwest of Nederland, Colorado. The instrument-rated commercial certificated flight instructor, the sole occupant aboard, was fatally injured. The aircraft was being operated as a personal cross-country flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91, and no flight plan had been filed. The aircraft departed Lee's Summit, Missouri, approximately 0800 central daylight time, and was en route to McElroy Airfield, Kremmling, Colorado. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the accident area.

According to family members, the pilot departed Lee's Summit on the morning of the accident en route to Colorado to visit one of his sons who lives in Kremmling. The pilot initiated flight following services with Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) at 0818:23. When the pilot first contacted ARTCC, N68VT was at an altitude of 10,500 feet above mean sea level (msl) and a heading of 280 degrees. At 0937, the pilot was asked to initiate a climb to a cruising altitude of 12,500 feet msl. The pilot acknowledged, and reached the assigned cruising altitude at 0945.

At 0947:16, the pilot was asked to contact Denver Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON). At that time, N68VT was 42 nautical miles (nm) east/northeast of Denver. The aircraft was cruising on a heading of 260 degrees, with an altitude varying between 12,500 and 12,600 feet msl. According to TRACON, N68VT was receiving flight following services until 1015:31, at which time services were terminated. The pilot was advised to re-contact Denver ARTCC for further advisories, but he failed to do so. According to NTAP (National Track Analysis Program) data, the last radar "hit" of N68VT was at 1019:23. The aircraft was traveling on a heading of 275 degrees at an altitude of 12,600 feet msl up until the time the aircraft impacted the terrain and was last observed on radar.

According to several witnesses working at the City of Boulder Watershed property located several miles east of the accident site, they heard an airplane flying overhead near the time of the accident traveling east to west and low to the ground. One witness stated that when he heard the aircraft, there was "no change in the sound of the engine." Low cloud cover, snow and poor visibility at the time prevented them from being able to view the aircraft.

At 1943, an ALNOT (alert notice) was issued after the aircraft failed to arrive at its destination. A search of the surrounding airports for the missing airplane was conducted, but unsuccessful. An aerial search was initiated, and an ELT (emergency locator transmitter) signal was detected. The aircraft was located by the Rocky Mountain Rescue Group along the north face of Arapaho Peak at approximately 1430 the following afternoon.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot, Kenneth Ray Messer, ag