Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn December 27, 2010, at 1436 mountain standard time, a Cessna C-210B airplane, N200EP, impacted terrain near Carter Lake, Loveland, Colorado. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot was fatally injured. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight originated from the Boulder Municipal Airport (BDU), Boulder, Colorado.

Radar data indicated the airplane departed BDU at 1323 with the airplane transponder code set to 1200. The radar data indicated the airplane flew in a random and varied manner in the area near the accident site until the last radar return. The airplane's radar (mode C) altitude returns remained between 8,000 and 9,000 feet mean sea level (MSL) from 1425 to 1434. At 1434, the pilot reported he was "losing elevator control" on emergency frequency 121.5 MHz. Radar data indicated the airplane was in a right hand turn at 8,900 MSL at that time. The airplane continued to turn right about 110 degrees and maintain altitude until established on an easterly course at 1434:36. The airplane descended from 8,600 feet MSL at 1434:36 to 7,600 feet MSL at 1435:22. The airplane continued a slight descent while turning right about 60 degrees and then turning back left to the east. The airplane flew straight and level for about 25 seconds before descending in a left hand turn. The last radar return occurred at 1436:09, at 6,900 feet MSL. The calculated average descent rate was about 4,800 feet per minute at that point. The pilot repeated that he was losing elevator control and that he was in the vicinity of Carter Lake prior to the last radar return. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe pilot, age 50, held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine land. His last Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third-class medical certificate was issued on February 16, 2009, with the restriction "Must have available glasses for near vision." The pilot reported 480 flight hours on his most recent application for a medical certificate. The pilot's logbook was partially destroyed in the accident. It indicated approximately 375 total flight hours, and over 206 hours in type. The date of the last logbook entry could not be determined. AIRCRAFT INFORMATIONThe accident airplane was a 1962 model Cessna C-210B, serial number 21057856. It was a high wing airplane with retractable tricycle landing gear, configured for four occupants. The airplane was powered by a Teledyne Continental Motors IO-470-S engine. The engine data plate was not located in the airplane wreckage. Annual type inspections were performed on the engine, propeller, and airframe on November 1, 2010, at an airframe total time of 3090.8 hours. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATIONWeather at Greely-Weld County Airport, Colorado, about 33 miles east of the accident site, at 1455 was repo