Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On January 11, 1996, at 1518 mountain standard time, a Beech 35, N3052V, was destroyed when it impacted terrain while maneuvering 8 miles southwest of Allenspark, Colorado. The private pilot and a passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed for the business flight being conducted under Title 49 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Longmont, Colorado, on January 11, 1996, at 1502.

There was no record of the pilot obtaining a weather briefing or filing a flight plan. When the airplane failed to arrive at Page, Arizona, family members became concerned and notified the Federal Aviation Administration. An Alert Notice (ALNOT) was issued on January 12, 1996, at 2358. According to the ALNOT, the route of flight was to have been from Longmont to Pueblo, Colorado, direct to Farmington, New Mexico, then direct to Page, Arizona, a distance of approximately 605 nm. An air and ground search was initiated, but was later suspended with negative results. On February 14, 1996, members of the Rocky Mountain Search and Rescue ski patrol sighted wreckage of an airplane approximately 23 nm west of Longmont, or about 6 nm south-southwest of Allenspark, Colorado. On February 18, 1996, rescuers were able to reach the scene, confirmed it was the wreckage of N3052V, and removed the bodies of the two occupants. On the same date, the investigative team also attempted to reach the accident site but was turned back by adverse weather, rough terrain, and avalanche hazards. The on-scene investigation finally commenced and terminated on June 25, 1996.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot's flight logbook was never located. According to FAA, the pilot was issued a private pilot certificate, with an airplane single-engine land rating, on September 12, 1977. This was the last recorded certificate action. When the pilot made application for his most recent medical certificate on May 24, 1995, he indicated he had logged a total of 800 flight hours, 80 hours of which were accrued in the previous six months.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The airplane maintenance records were never located. According to the Beech Aircraft Corporation, the airplane was manufactured in 1947 and was equipped with a Continental E-185-8 engine and a variable pitch propeller. It was equipped with standard fuel tanks with a total capacity of 40 gallons (34 gallons usable). According to the Federal Aviation Administration, a 10 gallon auxiliary fuselage fuel tank was installed in the airplane as allowed by an STC (Supplemental Type Certificate).

Longmont Airport records indicate the airplane was serviced to capacity prior to its departure (see TESTS AND RESEARCH).

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

There were no SIGMETs (significant meteorology) or PIREPs (pilot reports) in effect for the route of flight flown by N3052V. Two AIRMETs (airman meteorology), however, were in effect: AIRMET Sierra forecast mountains to be occasionally