Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On January 23, 1997, approximately 2050 mountain standard time, N76GM, a Beech B90, registered to Fayard Enterprises, Inc., and operated by Mile High Skydiving Center, Inc., was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Longmont, Colorado. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the ferry flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Vandalia, Illinois, on January 23, 1997, approximately 1800 central standard time.

The following is based on the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report. The pilot said she obtained a standard weather briefing and outlook prior to takeoff. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) were forecast to exist along her route of flight. She departed Louisburg, North Carolina, approximately 1400 eastern standard time. She stopped in Louisville, Kentucky, where a passenger disembarked, then she proceeded to Vandalia, Illinois. While the airplane was being refueled, she obtained another weather forecast. VMC was forecast to continue for the remainder of the flight. The pilot said she had to fly in VMC because there were several inoperative instruments aboard the airplane.

The pilot said the distance between Vandalia, Illinois, and Longmont, Colorado, is 730 nm. Using the winds aloft forecast and a computed 195 knots groundspeed (which she experienced between Louisburg, North Carolina, and Vandalia, Illinois), the pilot estimated her time en route to Longmont to be 3.7 hours. The pilot said she estimated a cruise fuel consumption rate of 250 pounds per hour per engine, based on her previous flight experience in the airplane and a performance chart she submitted. The chart, "Maximum Cruise Power," indicates the engines will consume 507 gallons of fuel per hour at 18,000 feet at -29 degrees F. (-34 degrees C.). According to Freedom Aviation, the airplane was serviced to capacity with 235 gallons of Jet-A fuel. Total fuel capacity of the Beech B90 is 384 gallons, or approximately 2,573 pounds. The pilot said she believed she had sufficient fuel to complete the flight and still have a 45 minute reserve required for night flight. She said she departed Vandalia at 1800 central standard time.

The pilot said that during the first hour of the flight, she flew at 10,500 feet and received flight following services from air route traffic control center (ARTCC). Later, in order to remain in VMC, she was forced to descend to 9,500 feet, then to 7,500 feet. The fuel flow gauges indicated 300 pounds per hour (each engine), and she recalculated fuel consumption and fuel remaining data.

The pilot said she estimated she had consumed 520 pounds during the first hour of flight, leaving 2,053 pounds remaining, or approximately 2.7 hours endurance. Using a fuel burn of 300 pounds per hour per engine, the pilot estimated 1,620 pounds of fuel would be required to complete the flight, leaving 433 pounds reserve.

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