Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On July 8, 2010, approximately 1230 mountain daylight time, an American Champion 8KCAB, airplane, N56BC, was substantially damaged when it impacted mountainous terrain in a wilderness area near Estes Park, Colorado. The two pilots sustained minor injuries. The airplane was owned and operated by a private individual, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The airplane departed the Greeley-Weld County Airport (GXY) Greeley, Colorado, at 1130 and was en route to Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (ASE) Aspen, Colorado.

According to the pilot, he was attempting to cross a mountain pass and was performing a 180-degree turn to gain altitude. During the turn, the airplane encountered a strong downdraft. The pilot added full power but was unable to arrest the descent. The pilot performed a forced landing upslope in a very heavy forested area in a remote canyon. The elevation of the impact location was approximately 11,000 feet mean sea level. Both wings were bent aft and partially separated from the fuselage. No preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures were found that would have precluded normal operation.

A review of weather radar and satellite imagery identified convective development at the accident location, just prior to the accident. The pilot's decision to fly at a low altitude in mountainous terrain and weather conditions conducive to downdrafts.