Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On May 26, 2000, at approximately 1515 mountain daylight time, a Cessna T210K, N9457M, was destroyed when it impacted terrain in Cottonwood Pass, near Buena Vista, Colorado. The non-instrument rated private pilot and his two passengers were fatally injured. The pilot was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site at the time of the accident. The cross-country personal flight originated from Jefferson County Airport, approximately 55 minutes before the accident. A VFR flight plan had been filed.

The pilot called Denver Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) on five separate occasions to get weather information and to file a VFR flight plan. On four of the calls, starting at 1030 on the day of the accident, the FAA briefer told the pilot of mountain obscuration and that VFR flight through central Colorado was not recommended. At 1107, the pilot filed a VFR flight plan from Jefferson County Airport, Broomfield, Colorado, direct to Halls Crossing, Utah, at 14,500 feet. He said that the estimated time en route was 2.5 hours, and that he had 5 hours of fuel onboard.

At 1353, the pilot again talked with an FAA briefer for a weather update. During that conversation, the pilot indicated that he would fly south to Pueblo, over La Veta Pass to Alamosa, and then west to Lake Powell. When the pilot called Denver AFSS, to open his flight plan at 1420, the controller again informed him of turbulence and mountain obscuration through central Colorado, and that VFR flight was not recommended.

At approximately 1500, a witness observed an airplane flying up Cottonwood Pass (N38 degrees, 48.29'; W106 degrees, 22.35'; elevation 10,640 feet) at approximately 300 to 400 feet above the ground on an estimated 240 degree heading. He had just driven over the pass and reported that visibility, at the top of the pass, was only 3 to 5 car-lengths. The witness said he observed the airplane only for a few seconds due to fog and snow showers.

When the pilot did not close his flight plan, the FAA reported the airplane missing at approximately 1700 on May 26. Search and rescue personnel located the wreckage at approximately 0900 on May 27.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

According to FAA records, the pilot reported on his last FAA medical application, dated June 23, 1998, that he had 2,000 hours of flight experience with 40 hours during the last 6 months. According to the pilot's flight logbook and airplane maintenance records, the pilot had an estimated 2,417 hours of flight experience at the time of the accident. The pilot indicated in his flight logbook that he started flying in 1960, and he received his private pilot certificate in 1964.

The pilot's flight logbook indicated that he successfully completed his last FAA required flight review on February 16, 2000.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The airplane was a single engine, propeller-driven, six seat airplane, which was manuf