Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On January 31, 2006, approximately 1210 mountain standard time, an Interstate S-1A, N28315, registered to and operated by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with a storage building while the engine was being hand-started at Melon Field (2V8), Rocky Ford, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal cross-country flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and a ground personnel were not injured. The flight was originating at the time and was destined for Canon City, Colorado.

According to the pilot's accident report, he had opened the throttle 1/8-inch and hand-started the engine (starting the engine by turning the propeller by hand). A second person held onto the empennage. The engine started and the person holding the empennage "let go...to get a better grip." The pilot was unable to get into the cockpit so he grabbed the right wing lift strut. The airplane started turning in circles to the right and collided with a storage building. Several wing ribs were broken and the leading edge was damaged. The right landing gear, lift strut, cowling, engine and propeller were also damaged. The pilot said he was unfamiliar with the airport and did not know where the tie downs were until someone pointed them out. the pilot's failure to use tie downs before attempting to hand-start the engine. A contributing factor was his failure to seek adequate assistance.