Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On December 12, 2013, about 1155 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-24-250 airplane, N8037P, impacted terrain near Collbran, Colorado. The private pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to 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 local flight originated from the Mack Mesa Airport (10CO), Mack, Colorado, about 1115.

The pilot was flying two passengers to search for lost cattle. The airplane was observed by residents to be maneuvering at low altitude. There were no witnesses to the accident sequence.

The airplane was reported as overdue and an alert notification (ALNOT) was issued. The airplane wreckage was located about 0100 on December 13, 2013. The airplane impacted a sparsely wooded area with rising terrain in the distance.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot, age 49, held a private pilot certificate for airplane single engine land. On October 17, 2013, he was issued an unrestricted third class medical. On his medical application, the pilot reported an evaluation for back pain that was resolved with no further pain and full function. A review of the pilot's logbook showed the pilot accumulated 545.6 hours of total time with about 200-300 hours in make and model. The pilot's most recent flight review was accomplished on January 26, 2012, in the accident airplane.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The single engine, low wing, Piper PA-24-250 airplane, serial number 24-3284, was manufactured in 1962. A 250-horsepower Lycoming IO-540-C1B5 engine, serial number L-388-48, powered the airplane and drove a 2-blade, metal, Hartzell HCA2VK1 propeller. A review of airframe and engine logbooks revealed that the airplane's most recent inspection was a combined 100 hour and annual inspection performed on October 10, 2013, at a total airframe and engine time of 4,086.6 hours, tachometer time of 247.2 hours, and 177.4 hours since the engine's last overhaul.

METEROLOGICAL INFORMATION

At 1153, an automated weather reporting facility located at the Garfield County Regional Airport (RIL), Rifle, Colorado, located 19 miles to the northwest, reported a calm wind, visibility 10 miles, a clear sky, temperature 16° Fahrenheit (F), dew point 9° F, and a barometric pressure of 30.43 inches of mercury.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

The wreckage was located in a sparely wooded area about 15 miles east of Collbran, Colorado, at a measured altitude of 8,188 feet. The airplane came to rest upright with the front of the airplane aligned on a 200 degree magnetic heading. The engine and propeller were submerged in the snow packed ground and could not be accessed on site. The fuselage was broken at the firewall and the remainder of the airplane remained intact. Both wings exhibited nearly symmetrical, rearward "