Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On May 11, 2005, at 1256 mountain daylight time, a Cessna T210G, N6807R, operated by a private pilot, was destroyed when it impacted terrain 3 nautical miles northwest of Ouray, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and three passengers were fatally injured. The cross-country flight departed Page Municipal Airport (PGA), Page, Arizona, approximately 1150 and was en route to Kelly Airpark, Elbert, Colorado.

Concerned family members reported the airplane missing on May 12, 2005. The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) located the wreckage, near Mt. Whitehouse, at approximately 1700 mountain daylight time on May 13, 2005. A debris path, approximately 1 1/2 miles long and 1/2 mile wide was located in mountainous terrain, varying in elevation from 10,000 feet to 12,800 feet mean seal level (msl).

According to the family, the airplane departed California early in the morning on May 11, 2005. The airplane landed at PGA, and according to airport personnel and fuel receipts, the airplane took on 30 gallons of fuel; 20 gallons in the left tank and 10 in the right tank. The fueler stated that he did not top off the fuel tanks and that the airplane departed shortly after the fueling services. No other services were rendered.

National Track Analysis Program (NTAP) radar data depicted the accident flight, progressing in an easterly direction, at an altitude of 18,000 feet msl, from 1243:00 until 1252:17. From 1252:27 until 1856:17, the altitude varied from 17,500 feet msl to 19,200 feet msl. The NTAP recorded the last radar information at 1856:17, in a location of 38 degrees, 02 minutes, 23 seconds north latitude, and 107 degrees, 45 minutes, 24 seconds west longitude, and an encoded altitude of 19,200 feet msl (2.7 miles west of the main wreckage). The aircraft ground speed during this time was measured to be between 124 knots and 314 knots.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot, age 59, held a private pilot certificate issued on January 20, 2000, with an airplane single engine land and instrument rating. He held a third class airman medical certificate issued on February 28, 2005. The certificate contained the limitation "must wear corrective lenses." At the time of medical application, the pilot reported a total flight time of 1,350 hours, 100 hours of which had been flown in the previous 6 months. According to the insurance company, the pilot had reported a total time of 1,360 hours, 1,210 hours of which had been logged in the make and model of the accident airplane.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The accident airplane, a Cessna T210G (serial number T210-0207), was manufactured in 1967. It was registered with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on a standard airworthiness certificate for normal operations. The airplane was equipped with a Continental TSIO-520M6B, S/N: 532139 with a rated maxim