Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On August 19, 2005, approximately 0950 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300, N4222R, owned by B&B Flying LLC, and operated by a private pilot, was destroyed when it impacted terrain 8 miles west of Vail, 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 his passenger sustained serious injuries. The cross-country flight departed Rock Springs, Wyoming, approximately 0840, and was en route to Leadville, Colorado.

According to one witness in the Vail area, he observed the airplane flying extremely low over the Interstate 70 corridor, from west to east. According to local law enforcement personnel, the airplane was flying eastbound over Interstate 70, with the intention of photographing a race that was taking place along the interstate. The passenger stated that they had difficulty maintaining altitude and the canyon ahead was too narrow in which to turn around.

According to several witnesses, the airplane touched down in the eastbound lane of Interstate 70, and impacted a road sign and the dividing barrier. The airplane crossed the dividing barrier, traveled across both westbound lanes of the interstate, and continued upslope into sapling trees. The airplane came to rest, facing upslope to the north.

In a statement submitted by the pilot, he stated they were flying along Interstate 70 with the intensions of taking pictures near Copper Mountain. The pilot stated they encountered several "extreme" downdrafts and were unable to maintain altitude. The pilot stated he performed a "touch and go" landing in the east bound lane of Interstate 70 and was able to fly 50 to 75 feet above the road. The airplane encountered another downdraft, impacted the eastbound lane of Interstate 70, impacted a highway sign and bounced over the concrete barrier, traveled across the westbound lane of Interstate 70 and came to rest off of the road.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The male pilot, age 42, held a private pilot certificate with airplane single engine land privileges and an instrument rating. The pilot was issued a third class airman medical certificate on April 6, 2005. The certificate contained no limitations. According to the 6120.1/2 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot had logged approximately 660 hours total time; 580 of which was logged in the make and model of the accident airplane.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

N4222R, a Piper PA-32-300 (serial number 32-40587), was manufactured in 1969. It was equipped with a Lycoming TIO-540-KIA5 engine rated for 310 horsepower. The engine was equipped with a Hartzell HC-C2YK-IBF, 3 bladed, controllable pitch propeller.

The airplane was registered to B & B Flying, LLC, located in Green River, Wyoming. The airplane was maintained under an annual inspection program. The maintenance records indicated that the airplane underwent an annual inspectio