Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On January 14, 2000, at 1318 mountain standard time, a Pilatus PC-7, HB-HOO, registered to and operated by Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., was destroyed when it collided with the ground and was subsequently consumed by fire while performing a low pass over runway 29R at Jefferson County Airport, Broomfield, Colorado. The Swiss-registered commercial pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an IFR flight plan was filed for the ferry flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Goshen, Indiana, at 0948 eastern standard time.

According to a representative of Pilatus Aircraft, the pilot was ferrying the aircraft from the company's headquarters in Stans, Switzerland, for a buyer in the United States. The pilot initiated the 5-day trip on January 10, with a final destination of Broomfield, Colorado, where the company has a completion facility.

According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) transcripts, the pilot of HB-HOO made initial contact with Denver TRACON (Terminal Radar Approach Control) at 1259. At 1315, the pilot was instructed to turn right to a heading of 290 degrees and to report the Jefferson County Airport (BJC) in sight. The pilot then reported that he had the airport in sight and the controller cleared the airplane for a visual approach to runway 29R at BJC. The pilot was then instructed to begin slowing to a final approach speed and to contact the tower.

At 1316:06, the pilot contacted the BJC tower and reported being on a long final approach to runway 29R. The controller acknowledged and advised the pilot that he was in sequence to be number two for landing. At 1316:29, the pilot asked, "May I do a low go around or a fly by?" The controller cleared the pilot for an optional approach, and instructed him to remain in a right traffic pattern following the approach. That was the last radio transmission received from the pilot.

According to an air traffic controller stationed in the airport tower at the time of the accident, he observed HB-HOO execute a low approach to runway 29R. At the midfield point of the runway, the aircraft "began to pitch up to [the] right. In its bank, HB-HOO made two rapid right 360-degree rolls, tail down. HB-HOO then stopped [the] roll upright, severe tail down, right bank (10 - 20 degrees), then descend rapidly. [The] right wing impacted adjacent taxiway A13. [The] aircraft continued to roll (cartwheel), explode and break up."

According to several pilots who were taxiing their aircraft on adjacent taxiways on the airport, they observed an aircraft with its landing gear in a retracted position overfly runway 29R at a low altitude. According to one pilot, he observed the aircraft level off with its wings level. The aircraft then began to pitch up and transitioned into a roll to the right at a fast rotation. It then traveled right off course with its flight path over the taxiway