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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4 Fatal
Aspen, Colorado
NTSB Narrative
HISTORY OF FLIGHT
On July 8, 2000, at approximately 1120 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 195 single-engine airplane, N4377V, was destroyed when it collided with terrain while maneuvering 7.4 miles northeast of Aspen, Colorado. The airplane was registered to and operated by the airline transport pilot. The pilot and his three passengers received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed, but not activated, for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight departed the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (ASE) at 1106, and was enroute to the Front Range Airport, Watkins, Colorado, at the time of the accident.
According to family members, the pilot flew the airplane from the Front Range Airport to ASE earlier on the morning of the accident. After having breakfast at Aspen, the pilot and his passengers boarded the airplane for the return flight to Watkins.
Radar data depicted the airplane departing ASE, flying north down the Roaring Fork River Valley, then turning right to fly southeast up the Woody Creek Valley. The last radar return (39 degrees 14 minutes and 47.3 seconds North and 106 degrees 49 minutes and 52.6 seconds West) depicted the airplane at 8,388 feet msl (approximately 148 feet above the terrain).
On July 9, 2000, at 1630, a missing aircraft report was issued by the FAA based on family concerns when the aircraft did not arrive at the Front Range Airport. On July 10th at 0600, the Civil Air Patrol commenced an aerial search. Approximately 0745, the search airplanes found the accident site in the Woody Creek Valley, approximately 5.5 miles east of the location of the last radar return.
PERSONNEL INFORMATION
The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with an airplane multi-engine land rating and type ratings in the Boeing 737, 757, 767, and 777 aircraft. He also held a commercial pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating, and current flight instructor ratings for single-engine and instrument airplanes. The pilot was issued a first class medical certificate on March 2, 2000, with the limitation "must wear corrective lenses and possess glasses for near and interim vision." According to the March 2000 medical application, the pilot reported that he had accumulated a total of 5,800 flight hours. It is not known how many hours were accumulated in the accident airplane; however, the pilot had been the registered owner of the airplane since July 7, 1998.
AIRPORT & SURROUNDING AREA INFORMATION
The ASE airport is located north of the city of Aspen at an elevation of 7,815 feet msl. A review of the Airport Facility Directory entry for ASE revealed that it stated that "unique VFR [visual flight rules] departure procedures exist." The departure procedures stated that "as soon as possible, but no later than crossing airport boundary, turn right to a heading of 360 degrees - a 30-degree right turn from runway heading -
On July 8, 2000, at approximately 1120 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 195 single-engine airplane, N4377V, was destroyed when it collided with terrain while maneuvering 7.4 miles northeast of Aspen, Colorado. The airplane was registered to and operated by the airline transport pilot. The pilot and his three passengers received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed, but not activated, for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight departed the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (ASE) at 1106, and was enroute to the Front Range Airport, Watkins, Colorado, at the time of the accident.
According to family members, the pilot flew the airplane from the Front Range Airport to ASE earlier on the morning of the accident. After having breakfast at Aspen, the pilot and his passengers boarded the airplane for the return flight to Watkins.
Radar data depicted the airplane departing ASE, flying north down the Roaring Fork River Valley, then turning right to fly southeast up the Woody Creek Valley. The last radar return (39 degrees 14 minutes and 47.3 seconds North and 106 degrees 49 minutes and 52.6 seconds West) depicted the airplane at 8,388 feet msl (approximately 148 feet above the terrain).
On July 9, 2000, at 1630, a missing aircraft report was issued by the FAA based on family concerns when the aircraft did not arrive at the Front Range Airport. On July 10th at 0600, the Civil Air Patrol commenced an aerial search. Approximately 0745, the search airplanes found the accident site in the Woody Creek Valley, approximately 5.5 miles east of the location of the last radar return.
PERSONNEL INFORMATION
The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with an airplane multi-engine land rating and type ratings in the Boeing 737, 757, 767, and 777 aircraft. He also held a commercial pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating, and current flight instructor ratings for single-engine and instrument airplanes. The pilot was issued a first class medical certificate on March 2, 2000, with the limitation "must wear corrective lenses and possess glasses for near and interim vision." According to the March 2000 medical application, the pilot reported that he had accumulated a total of 5,800 flight hours. It is not known how many hours were accumulated in the accident airplane; however, the pilot had been the registered owner of the airplane since July 7, 1998.
AIRPORT & SURROUNDING AREA INFORMATION
The ASE airport is located north of the city of Aspen at an elevation of 7,815 feet msl. A review of the Airport Facility Directory entry for ASE revealed that it stated that "unique VFR [visual flight rules] departure procedures exist." The departure procedures stated that "as soon as possible, but no later than crossing airport boundary, turn right to a heading of 360 degrees - a 30-degree right turn from runway heading -
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Details
| NTSB Report | DEN00FA127 |
| Aircraft | Cessna 195 |
| Registration | N4377V |
| Damage | DEST |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Location | 39.2400, -106.7117 |
