Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On June 21, 1996, at 1448 mountain daylight time (all times are mountain daylight time unless otherwise noted), a Beech 58, N94ZR, impacted the ground while maneuvering approximately 5 miles southeast of Castle Rock, Colorado. The private pilot and his three passengers received fatal injuries and the aircraft was destroyed. The flight was operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and a visual flight rules flight plan was on file. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the accident area for this personal flight which originated at 1302 from Albuquerque, New Mexico.

At 1250, the pilot of 94ZR called Albuquerque Clearance Delivery and requested a VFR (visual flight rules) departure with flight following to Denver, Colorado, Centennial Airport, with a cruise altitude of 11,500 feet msl (above mean sea level). He was issued a departure radio communications frequency and VFR transponder code.

The aircraft taxied to runway 17 at Albuquerque International Airport and departed for Centennial Airport at 1302. At 1359 Albuquerque Center (ARTCC) issued the pilot of N94ZR a frequency change to Denver ARTCC who gave the pilot the Trinidad, Colorado, altimeter and issued a hazardous weather bulletin for Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico.

At 1418, Denver ARTCC passed N94ZR to Pueblo, Colorado, Approach Control for transit through their area. Approach Control issued the Pueblo altimeter to N94ZR and advised them of a weather area northeast of Pueblo moving northeast. N94ZR advised that he saw the weather on his radar. Approach Control asked N94ZR if he was going west of the weather and the pilot responded that he was going to Centennial Airport.

At 1428, N94ZR was passed to Colorado Springs Approach Control (radar south) and was issued the Colorado Springs altimeter. At 1432 the pilot was advised of a weather area north of Colorado Springs Airport. He answered that he observed the weather area and would deviate as necessary. A frequency change to Colorado Springs Approach Control (north radar) was given at 1439 and at 1442, N94ZR requested a descent to 9,500 feet msl to stay below the weather. The controller advised N94ZR to maintain VFR.

Radar service with Colorado Springs Approach Control was terminated at 1444 and the pilot was issued the appropriate Denver Approach Control frequency.

While the departure radar controller was coordinating with Denver ARTCC via land line, N94ZR attempted to contact Denver. A second call was made by the aircraft about 25 seconds later; however, the controller was again engaged in land line coordination.

At 1447, N94ZR called Colorado Springs Approach Control (north radar) and said he was turning south to avoid the weather. The actual transmissions concerning the event are as follows: "BARON NINE FOUR ZULU ROMEO I NEED TO DEVIATE AROUND THIS THING I'M GONNA HAVE TO TURN BACK TO THE SOUTH." The controller responded: "NINE FOUR ZULU ROMEO ROGER YOU'RE RADAR CONTACT AND UNDERSTAND YOU'RE