Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents
Learn from Colorado's accident history to fly safer in the Rockies
2310 Total Accidents
425 Fatal
816 Fatalities
1982-2026
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2 Fatal
ESTES PARK, Colorado
NTSB Narrative
HISTORY OF FLIGHT
On April 30, 2000, at 1211 mountain daylight time, a Smith Aerostar 601, N7421S, was destroyed when it impacted Commanche Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado, at 12,600 feet above mean sea level (msl). The private certificated non-instrument rated pilot and his passenger received fatal injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The flight was a cross-country flight from Page, Arizona, to Fort Collins, Colorado, operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91, and no flight plan was filed. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site. The flight departed Page, at approximately 1030.
It became known that the aircraft was overdue to its destination of Fort Collins, when the family contacted Denver flight service on the morning of May 1, 2000. The pilot and his passenger were expected to be back in Fort Collins from Page on the afternoon of April 30th.
After an alert notice (ALNOT) was issued, the route airports were checked, and an electronic search was completed. The Civil Air Patrol (CAP), and other airborne units conducted an aerial search. The aircraft was located on May 4th by the crew of a Colorado National Guard helicopter.
PERSONNEL INFORMATION
The pilot held a private pilot certificate issued February 26, 1982, with a single engine land rating. He added a multiengine rating on April 9, 1982. He did not posses an instrument rating.
At the time of the accident, the pilot held a third class medical certificate, issued on June 11, 1998. There were no limitations on the medical certificate.
No flight experience records were found during the course of the investigation. A review of the pilot's medical certificate application revealed that he reported he had 4,400 hours of flight experience with 50 hours flown in the preceding 6 months. His single engine/multiengine experience, and his experience in the accident aircraft make and model are unknown. He purchased the accident airplane on April 4, 1999, and according to associates, he flew frequently, with numerous trips to Page.
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
This Smith Aerostar 601, serial number 61-0006, was built in 1969. Two Lycoming IO-540 series turbocharged engines powered the aircraft. It was not a pressurized design. No aircraft, engine, or propeller records were located during the course of the investigation.
The aircraft was equipped with a II Morrow Apollo GX-55 Global Positioning System navigation receiver. According to the manufacturer, the unit had both altitude and minimum safe altitude readout capability. Its use during the flight was not known.
A work order from Av-West Avionics documented that the mode C transponder had been checked in accordance with FAR 91.413 on December 2, 1999.
Fuel slips provided documentation that prior to leaving Fort Collins, the aircraft was serviced with 124.4 gallons of 100LL gasoline, and 80.6 gallons of 100LL gasoline prior to departing Page. It was calculated that the aircr
On April 30, 2000, at 1211 mountain daylight time, a Smith Aerostar 601, N7421S, was destroyed when it impacted Commanche Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado, at 12,600 feet above mean sea level (msl). The private certificated non-instrument rated pilot and his passenger received fatal injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The flight was a cross-country flight from Page, Arizona, to Fort Collins, Colorado, operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91, and no flight plan was filed. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site. The flight departed Page, at approximately 1030.
It became known that the aircraft was overdue to its destination of Fort Collins, when the family contacted Denver flight service on the morning of May 1, 2000. The pilot and his passenger were expected to be back in Fort Collins from Page on the afternoon of April 30th.
After an alert notice (ALNOT) was issued, the route airports were checked, and an electronic search was completed. The Civil Air Patrol (CAP), and other airborne units conducted an aerial search. The aircraft was located on May 4th by the crew of a Colorado National Guard helicopter.
PERSONNEL INFORMATION
The pilot held a private pilot certificate issued February 26, 1982, with a single engine land rating. He added a multiengine rating on April 9, 1982. He did not posses an instrument rating.
At the time of the accident, the pilot held a third class medical certificate, issued on June 11, 1998. There were no limitations on the medical certificate.
No flight experience records were found during the course of the investigation. A review of the pilot's medical certificate application revealed that he reported he had 4,400 hours of flight experience with 50 hours flown in the preceding 6 months. His single engine/multiengine experience, and his experience in the accident aircraft make and model are unknown. He purchased the accident airplane on April 4, 1999, and according to associates, he flew frequently, with numerous trips to Page.
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
This Smith Aerostar 601, serial number 61-0006, was built in 1969. Two Lycoming IO-540 series turbocharged engines powered the aircraft. It was not a pressurized design. No aircraft, engine, or propeller records were located during the course of the investigation.
The aircraft was equipped with a II Morrow Apollo GX-55 Global Positioning System navigation receiver. According to the manufacturer, the unit had both altitude and minimum safe altitude readout capability. Its use during the flight was not known.
A work order from Av-West Avionics documented that the mode C transponder had been checked in accordance with FAR 91.413 on December 2, 1999.
Fuel slips provided documentation that prior to leaving Fort Collins, the aircraft was serviced with 124.4 gallons of 100LL gasoline, and 80.6 gallons of 100LL gasoline prior to departing Page. It was calculated that the aircr
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Details
| NTSB Report | DEN00FA086 |
| Aircraft | Smith, Ted Aerostar AEROSTAR 601 |
| Registration | N7421S |
| Damage | DEST |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Location | 40.3698, -105.5209 |
