Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

(Note: All time are depicted in mountain daylight time unless otherwise noted.)

On June 25, 1994, at 1300, a Piper PA-46-350P, N51CC, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing in a field approximately one quarter mile short of runway 29 at Akron, Colorado. The pilot and one passenger received serious injuries, and the other passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this personal flight and an IFR flight plan was filed.

The trip originated from Kenosha, Wisconsin, at 0800 the day of the accident. A servicing stop was conducted at Grand Island, Nebraska, with the flight departing that facility at 1116. During that stop, the aircraft was serviced with 67.8 gallons of 100 LL aviation fuel and 2 quarts of engine oil. The oil level after servicing is unknown, and according to the owner, the fuel on board at the time of departure was 120 gallons. An IFR flight plan was filed and the route of flight was direct to Aspen, Colorado, with an assigned cruise altitude of flight level 200.

At 1202, the pilot of N51CC contacted Denver Center and advised he was having "turbo" problems and requested a descent to 17,000 feet above mean sea level (msl). He was cleared to 17,000 feet and at 1216, the pilot requested and was granted a descent to 12,000 feet msl. At 1245, the flight advised center of oil pressure problems and requested vectors to the nearest airport. The controller advised that Akron was 300 degrees at 20 miles. At 1249, the pilot stated that he had lost the engine. At this time, the flight was 14 miles from Akron at 9,000 feet msl. At 1251 Denver Center lost radar and radio contact with N51CC and at 1257 another aircraft in the area reported an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal.

The aircraft landed approximately 450 feet short of runway 29 at Akron in a wheat field. Following touch down on a heading of 290 degrees, the aircraft rotated to the left around the vertical axis, and came to rest on a heading of 210 degrees after sliding for 440 feet on a track of 290 degrees. (See attached diagram.)

According to the pilot, when he began losing oil pressure, the propeller went into overspeed and he secured the engine.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

At the time of the landing in a wheat field, the landing gear was down and the flaps were up. The field consisted of loose sandy soil and unharvested wheat. Following touch down, all three landing gear failed upward and the engine broke loose from the upper mounts at the firewall.

No oil was present on the dip stick and approximately 2 quarts of oil was recovered from the engine.

Both wings were wrinkled on the upper and lower surfaces and the left aileron detached at the outer hinge. Integrity of the left wing fuel tank was lost. Fuel on board at the time of the accident is estimated to be between 80 and 100 gallons.

The underside of the aircraft sustained damage at the antenna mounts with upward deform