Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

The pilot was given takeoff clearance at 2219 and took off on runway 17L. He flew around the airport for a short period of time, then he contacted the control tower for landing clearance, advising that he was east of the airport (he was actually west of the airport). He was cleared to land on runway 17L at 2240. He landed on runway 35R. As the pilot taxied along the ramp, tower personnel noticed him doing "doughnuts" (taxiing in circles). Sheriff's deputies, accompanied by the airport operations supervisor, found the pilot wandering around the tarmac. He appeared to be intoxicated. He was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital. A deputy who interviewed the pilot said his eyes were "red, watery, and bloodshot." He also detected a "strong odor of alcohol on his breath." The pilot told the deputy he did not start drinking until after he had landed. Examination of the airplane revealed the left wing struts were bent back with scratch marks consistent with impact. The wing angled down from the fuselage at about 15 degrees, consistent with a broken spar at the wing root. Other damage included torn fabric on the right wing and punctures in both wing fabrics." The pilot said it was dark when he landed, and he was "taxiing too fast, over controlling, and not watching where he was going." Outside and near the hangar, a displaced refuse dumpster bore scratches and paint transfer marks similar in color as that of the airplane. the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while taxiing from landing, resulting in a collision with a refuse dumpster. A contributing factor was his physical impairment by alcohol.