Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On January 11, 2009, at 0942 mountain standard time (MST), N604WP, a Pilatus PC-12/45 single-engine turbo-prop airplane, was substantially damaged on impact with terrain following a loss of control shortly after takeoff from the Yampa Valley Airport (HDN), Hayden, Colorado. The private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was owned and operated by the Rooney Consulting and Aviation LLC., of Bandon, Oregon. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The 633-nautical mile cross-country flight, which was originating at the time of the accident, was destined for the Chino Airport (CNO), Chino, California.

According to the General Manager at Galaxy Aviation, a Fixed Base Operator (FBO) located at HDN, the pilot contacted him about 0730 and asked that the airplane be pulled from its heated hangar and fueled. The airport manager suggested to the pilot that they wait to pull the airplane until after he arrived in order to prevent falling snow from accumulating on the airplane. The pilot agreed and called again around 0800 to let the manager know that he and his passenger had arrived.

Three line crew members assisted in getting the airplane ready for departure. The line crew members reported that once the airplane was pulled outside, the pilot performed a walk around inspection before he and the passenger boarded the airplane. While the pilot and passenger remained in the airplane, the airplane was fueled about 0917, and then pulled out to the taxiway in an effort to prevent it from becoming stuck in the snow. The line crew also reported "heavy" snowfall from the time the airplane was pulled from the hangar until the airplane departed. In addition, two of the line crew members reported seeing an accumulation of "wet snow" on the airplane's wings. One of the two line crew members described the accumulation on the wings as “probably a good inch of slushy wet snow.” A line crew member also reported that the FBO manager had suggested to the pilot that he taxi to fuel and de-ice because of the accumulating heavy wet snow; however, the pilot declined.

The three line crew members described what they observed during the airplane’s takeoff roll. One reported that the airplane did not take too long to takeoff and that it appeared normal. Another said it appeared as if the airplane was not picking up enough speed during takeoff. The third one stated that it was a slow takeoff roll as if the airplane was “heavy.” In addition, the FBO manager estimated the airplane’s takeoff roll to be about 4,000 feet and then observed the airplane make a shallow right bank before flying out of sight.

Airport fire department personnel reported the airplane departed from runway 28 at 0939. A fireman, who observed the airplane takeoff, reported that the airplane appeared to level off momentarily about 500-feet above gro