Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On August 23, 1995, approximately 1217 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 320, N5720X, was substantially damaged during a forced landing at Gunnison, Colorado. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. The flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, originated at Banning, California, on August 23, 1995, approximately 0600 Pacific daylight time. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight.

The following is based on the pilot/operator report and information provided by the FAA and Gunnison Airport management. The airplane was serviced to capacity (130 gallons) on the evening before the accident, and the pilot flew for 15 minutes doing touch-and-go landings. The pilot departed Banning, California, the next morning approximately 0600 Pacific daylight time. The pilot used the main tanks initially until the fuel gauges indicated 50 gallons in each tank, then switched to the auxiliary tanks for the next 90 minutes.

Due to unfavorable weather, the pilot was forced to approach Alamosa, Colorado, from the southwest. As he turned north to proceed towards Buena Vista, his destination, he saw two valleys with airports at the end. He chose the wrong valley and decided to continue towards Gunnison for fuel. He said he had the airport in sight and with 15 gallons indicated in each main tank, he began his descent. Both engines then lost power. The pilot made a forced landing on U.S. 50, but was forced to swerve off the highway to avoid colliding with an oncoming vehicle. During the ensuing off-road landing roll, the landing gear and right tip tank were sheared off. The airplane then skidded to a halt, sustaining damage to the left wing, fuselage, nose, and empennage.

The fire department received the first call that an airplane was down at 1217, or approximately 5 hours, 17 minutes after the airplane departed Banning. Fire department and airport officials reported they found little evidence of fuel in the fuel tanks.

The pilot told a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that during the flight, the fuel flow gauges indicated 16 gallons per hour for each engine. According to the Cessna Aircraft Company, fuel consumption should have been about 25 gallons per hour for both engines. FUEL EXHAUSTION INDUCED POWER LOSS DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL. A FACTOR WAS HIS DISORIENTATION.