Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On August 15, 2006, approximately 2220 mountain daylight time, a Cirrus Design Corporation SR20 single-engine airplane, N8127J, was destroyed when it impacted mountainous terrain while maneuvering near Mc Elroy Airfield (20V), Kremmling, Colorado. The commercial pilot sustained serious injuries and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated by West Valley Flying Club, Palo Alto, California, and registered to NIV Aviation, Los Alto Hills, California. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight departed Cedar City Regional Airport (CDC), Cedar City, Utah, approximately 1900, with a planned destination of Jeffco Airport (BJC), Denver, Colorado.

According to the pilot and air traffic control (ATC) communications, prior to departure from Palo Alto (PAO), California, he obtained a standard weather briefing and filed an IFR flight plan. His plan was to fly from PAO to BJC with a planned stop at CDC to refuel. During the flight, the pilot utilized portable oxygen for the high altitude flight operations. Shortly after departure from PAO, ATC informed the pilot that the Mode C function of the transponder was not functioning. The pilot attempted to recycle the transponder; however, the attempts were unsuccessful. In addition to the Mode C problem, the pilot stated that the autopilot would not engage in the "NAV" mode, so the pilot decided to use the autopilot in the "APP" mode. The pilot continued the flight, and the airplane landed uneventfully at CDC.

During a 45-minute stop at CDC, the airplane was refueled, the pilot obtained another standard weather briefing and filed an IFR flight plan to BJC. According to the weather briefing transcript, the briefer informed the pilot of a convective SIGMET (Significant Meteorological Information) for thunderstorm activity in the mountains of Colorado. Moderate to strong weather radar echoes were reported along the pilot's intended route of flight. The pilot inquired to the briefer whether another route of flight had less thunderstorms, and the briefer responded, "no, those thunderstorms pretty much start at up toward the Rock Springs (Wyoming) area and go through to the Phoenix (Arizona) area...so it looks like no matter which way you go, you're going to be flying through something this afternoon."

According to the pilot's statement, which was taken by another individual (employee of West Valley Flying Club) and submitted to the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) as part of the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1), the pilot decided to take off, and if the weather was not good enough, he would ask for vectors around the bad weather. If he could not be vectored, he would turn around and return to CDC.

Shortly after departure from CDC, the pilot again experienced problems with the Mode C fu