Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On September 1, 1999, approximately 0825 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, N4366D, operated by Colorado Skyways, Inc., of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was destroyed when it collided with mountainous terrain and burned 10 miles northwest of Villa Grove, Colorado. The commercial rated flight instructor and the commercial rated pilot receiving instruction were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91, and a company VFR flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at Colorado Springs approximately 0730.

The investigation revealed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation had contracted with Colorado Skyways to train those special agents who were also pilots in mountain flying techniques. Each week during the months of August and September, training classes of three agents each were conducted (8 weeks, 24 agents). This was the third year Colorado Skyways had provided this training. The company has 10 airplanes in its fleet, including 6 Cessna 172s and a Piper PA-28-181, and employs 5 full time and 6 part time flight instructors. Since it also has a contract with the U.S. Air Force Academy to provide introductory flight training for cadets, only two Cessna 172s were available for FBI use. It was decided that the tallest agent would fly the Piper PA-28-181.

Three special agents arrived in Colorado Springs on Monday, August 30 to begin the fifth mountain flying class of 1999. The next day, they attended 4 hours of ground school that included a briefing for the next day's flight. FBI officials could find no evidence that the special agent had ever flown in a low wing airplane.

The following is based on interviews with the two surviving special agents and their flight instructors. The special agents arrived at the airport approximately 0700 on September 1, and, along with their flight instructors, preflighted and loaded their respective airplanes. One of the instructors obtained a computer printout of the forecast weather. Visual meteorological conditions were expected to prevail, with relatively light surface and winds aloft (7 knots at 9,000 feet, 14 knots at 12,000 feet). A company VFR flight plan was left at the front desk prior to departure.

The three airplanes took off from Colorado Springs Municipal Airport in loose formation approximately 0730, and flew southwestward at 7,500 feet msl (mean sea level), skirting Cheyenne Mountain and the Fort Carson restricted area (R-2601 A&B). The formation then turned and followed the Arkansas River and U.S. Highway 50 to Coaldale (see attached Denver Sectional Chart for the approximate route). The pilots stayed in contact with each other by communicating on CTAF (common traffic advisory frequency) 122.75 mHz.

At Coaldale, the airplanes turned west and entered Hayden Pass (summit 10,709 feet msl). As they approached the pass, standing lenticular clouds were noted to the n