Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn April 3, 2021, about 1735 central daylight time, a Magnus Aircraft Fusion 212, N434MA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Conifer, Colorado. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to onboard flight data, the airplane departed about 1658 from Colorado Air and Space Port Airport (FCO), Denver, Colorado. The airplane flew southwest from FCO and maneuvered near the mountain community of Deckers, Colorado, about 800 ft above ground level (agl), then continued southwest toward rising terrain. An emergency locator transmitter (ELT) beacon was recorded about 1735.

A witness near Wigwam Trail in the Pike National Forest observed the airplane on a northwest heading and then it turned left to enter a canyon at less than 500 ft agl. After the airplane entered the canyon, the airplane turned right, and the witness lost sight of the airplane.

Onboard flight data showed the airplane fly toward the canyon, about 9,200 ft mean sea level (msl) and 75-81 knots groundspeed. The airplane began a climbing right turn as it approached higher terrain.

At 17:35:40, the airplane climbed to a maximum altitude of 9,457 ft msl and decelerated to 49 knots indicated airspeed and 62 knots groundspeed, with a ground track of 054°.

The last recorded flight data showed the airplane near the accident site at 9,398 ft msl, 69 knots indicated airspeed and 58 knots groundspeed, with a ground track of 110° (see Figure 1.)

Figure 1. Accident Flight Path Altitude and Groundspeed.
PERSONNEL INFORMATIONAccording to Federal Aviation Administration records, the pilot started flying in 2018 and was the pilot in command for 2 previous accidents and 4 pilot deviations. The first accident involved fuel exhaustion due to the pilot not securing a fuel cap and the second accident involved the pilot’s loss of directional control during landing. The four pilot deviations involved Class B and Class D airspace violations.

The pilot completed Magnus Fusion 212 ground and flight training on March 16, 2021. The flight instructor stated that the pilot received training on the basics of mountain flying, including a discussion of the hazards associated with high density altitude flying and rugged terrain. The flight instructor who provided the training was not aware of the pilot’s previous accidents and airspace violations.
AIRCRAFT INFORMATIONAccording to the manufacturer, the flaps 0° stall speeds with a bank angle of 0°, 30°, and 45° were about 43, 46, and 52 knots, respectively, at the airplane’s estimated accident weight. The installed Dynon avionics system provides an aural stall warning that beeps faster as the airplane approaches a stall.
METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATIONA High Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) numerical model sounding was obtained from the NOAA Air Resource Laboratory archive over the accident site coordinates for 1700. The HRRR