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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1 Fatal
KARVAL, Colorado
NTSB Narrative
HISTORY OF FLIGHT
On June 27, 2000, at 1409 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 152, N46935, was destroyed following impact with terrain in an uncontrolled descent near Karval, Colorado. The non-instrument rated private pilot, the sole occupant aboard the airplane, was fatally injured. Ellicott Flying Service, Inc. operated the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight that originated from Colorado Springs East Airport, Ellicott, Colorado, approximately 1 hour before the accident. No flight plan had been filed.
According to the owner of Ellicott Flying Service, he spoke with the pilot just before takeoff about adverse weather in the area. He stated that the pilot said due to the bad weather, that he was planning to stay in the traffic pattern to practice touch-and-goes. After an estimated 4 touch-and-go landings, he observed the airplane departing the traffic pattern to the south. He said he attempted to make radio contact with the pilot, but there was no response.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) radar, the airplane departed the Colorado Springs East Airport area at 1316 on a southbound heading. At 1328, the airplane flew east-northeast until 1338, then the airplane turned south, and at 1348 the airplane was flying northward. At 1154, the airplane was again on an eastbound heading, and 5 minutes later turned southeast. At 1405:42 the pilot began squawking 7700 (emergency) and called FAA Flight Watch reporting that he was in some clouds, and was having difficulty flying the airplane. The last radar return was recorded at 1408; FAA personnel reported receiving an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal soon after that.
PERSONNEL INFORMATION
According to FAA records, the pilot received his private pilot certificate on August 4, 1989. According to his FAA medical application, dated February 2, 2000, he had accumulated approximately 800 hours of flight experience.
The owner of Ellicott Flying Service said that the 83-year-old pilot flew two to three times a week. He also stated that the pilot had accumulated his flight time in Cessna 150, 152, and 172 model airplanes.
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
The airplane was a single engine, propeller-driven, two seat airplane manufactured by Cessna Aircraft Company, in 1979. It was powered by a Lycoming O-235-L2C, four cylinder, reciprocating, horizontally opposed, direct drive, air cooled, normally aspirated engine, which had a maximum takeoff rating of 110 horsepower at sea level. The maintenance logbooks indicated that the last annual inspection was completed on May 9, 2000. The aircraft's maintenance logbooks and the engine's tachometer indicated that the airframe had a total of 9,919 hours of flight time when the accident occurred.
METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION
At 1354, the weather at Colorado Springs Airport (COS elevation 6,184 feet) 270 degrees 35 nautical mi
On June 27, 2000, at 1409 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 152, N46935, was destroyed following impact with terrain in an uncontrolled descent near Karval, Colorado. The non-instrument rated private pilot, the sole occupant aboard the airplane, was fatally injured. Ellicott Flying Service, Inc. operated the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight that originated from Colorado Springs East Airport, Ellicott, Colorado, approximately 1 hour before the accident. No flight plan had been filed.
According to the owner of Ellicott Flying Service, he spoke with the pilot just before takeoff about adverse weather in the area. He stated that the pilot said due to the bad weather, that he was planning to stay in the traffic pattern to practice touch-and-goes. After an estimated 4 touch-and-go landings, he observed the airplane departing the traffic pattern to the south. He said he attempted to make radio contact with the pilot, but there was no response.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) radar, the airplane departed the Colorado Springs East Airport area at 1316 on a southbound heading. At 1328, the airplane flew east-northeast until 1338, then the airplane turned south, and at 1348 the airplane was flying northward. At 1154, the airplane was again on an eastbound heading, and 5 minutes later turned southeast. At 1405:42 the pilot began squawking 7700 (emergency) and called FAA Flight Watch reporting that he was in some clouds, and was having difficulty flying the airplane. The last radar return was recorded at 1408; FAA personnel reported receiving an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal soon after that.
PERSONNEL INFORMATION
According to FAA records, the pilot received his private pilot certificate on August 4, 1989. According to his FAA medical application, dated February 2, 2000, he had accumulated approximately 800 hours of flight experience.
The owner of Ellicott Flying Service said that the 83-year-old pilot flew two to three times a week. He also stated that the pilot had accumulated his flight time in Cessna 150, 152, and 172 model airplanes.
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
The airplane was a single engine, propeller-driven, two seat airplane manufactured by Cessna Aircraft Company, in 1979. It was powered by a Lycoming O-235-L2C, four cylinder, reciprocating, horizontally opposed, direct drive, air cooled, normally aspirated engine, which had a maximum takeoff rating of 110 horsepower at sea level. The maintenance logbooks indicated that the last annual inspection was completed on May 9, 2000. The aircraft's maintenance logbooks and the engine's tachometer indicated that the airframe had a total of 9,919 hours of flight time when the accident occurred.
METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION
At 1354, the weather at Colorado Springs Airport (COS elevation 6,184 feet) 270 degrees 35 nautical mi
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Details
| NTSB Report | DEN00FA118 |
| Aircraft | Cessna 152 |
| Registration | N46935 |
| Damage | DEST |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Location | 39.9604, -105.0200 |
