Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

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2310 Total Accidents 425 Fatal 816 Fatalities 1982-2026
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KREMMLING, Colorado

December 16, 1995 · NTSB FTW96FA072 · Beech 35 (N1969D)
2 Fatal
Note: This analysis may be based on NTSB preliminary reports, which represent an initial, incomplete investigation. Facts can change as the investigation progresses, and preliminary findings should not be assumed to be accurate or final. For older events, a final NTSB report may have been issued β€” always consult the NTSB Aviation Query for the authoritative record.

NTSB Narrative

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On December 16, 1995, at 1400 mountain standard time, (mst) a Beech BE-35, N1969D, collided with terrain after takeoff from McElroy Field, Kremmling, Colorado. The certified flight instructor and student pilot received fatal injuries and the aircraft was destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this local area instructional flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed.

According to witnesses, the flight had been operating in the traffic pattern for about two hours. Following takeoff from a touch and go landing on runway 9, the aircraft was observed passing over a low hill and some electrical feeder lines in a nose high attitude with the wings "wobbling." It impacted in a field about 100 yards beyond the feeder lines and about one mile off the end of the runway. Weather at the time was clear skies and calm winds.

Investigation revealed that the aircraft was owned jointly by the father and son and the son, who was a certified flight instructor, was teaching his father to fly. According to persons at the airport, they flew nearly every Saturday, weather permitting, and usually stayed in the pattern.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot received his private pilot certificate on September 4, 1982, his commercial and instrument certificate February 4, 1985, and his flight instructor certificate on February 10, 1985.

Two pilot logs were recovered. The last entry in the second log was made on September 5, 1990. Flight time accumulated after that date could not be verified; however, according to the student's log book, he flew 39 hours of dual with his father as the student between July 15, 1995, and December 2, 1995.

Recovered documents provided information that the pilot completed AOPA flight instructor's refresher training in September 1995.

The student pilot received his third class medical certificate and student pilot certificate on September 19, 1995. According to his log book, he started flight instruction, with his son acting as flight instructor, on July 15, 1995, and had accumulated 39 hours of flight time all of which was in the accident aircraft. He did not have a solo endorsement, and his last recorded flight prior to the accident flight was on December 2, 1995.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The aircraft log book provided information that the aircraft was a 1953 model and was reregistered, following the loss of the logs, in 1976. The aircraft was registered to the pilot and his father on August 26, 1995.

An FAA Form 337 was recovered and provided information that the aircraft had been involved in a landing accident in 1986, and subsequently the landing gear, belly skins, and propeller were replaced.

According to the aircraft log book, a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) was issued in April 1984, by Symons Engineering. This was STC SA-4-559 dated August 1958, for the installation of a fuselage 20 gallon auxiliary fuel tank. The STC documents were not located and pr

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Details

NTSB ReportFTW96FA072
AircraftBeech 35
RegistrationN1969D
DamageDEST
FAR Part091
Location40.0493, -106.3704
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