Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On March 8, 1998, approximately 1510 mountain standard time, a Duci's Vans RV-3 (upgraded to an RV-3A), N99HV, was destroyed when it collided with terrain while maneuvering near Elbert, Colorado. The airline transport rated pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local personal flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Elbert approximately 1445.

The only witness to the accident, a U.S. Air Force Academy cadet, was watching the airplane from the south end of Kelly Airpark. The pilot "was performing aerobatics (loops, chandelles, rolls)." He then saw the airplane in a nose high attitude, "as if he were coming to the top of a loop." He said "one of his wings suddenly 'folded' up. It looked as if it had bent at the connection between the wing and the fuselage. It did not separate from the fuselage." The witness said the airplane nosed over, entered a "gentle spin," then stabilized and increased speed as it dove towards the ground. The witness estimated the time of the accident to be 1510, and he went to the nearest telephone and called 9-1-1. According to the Elbert County Sheriff's Office, the call was received at 1511.

Two other witnesses submitted written statements, saying they had seen an airplane performing aerobatics over their homes. One witness said the airplane was 100 feet above the ground; the other said it was 65 feet. Their description of the airplane was similar to that of N99HV.

The accident occurred during the hours of daylight at a location of 39 degrees, 13.732 minutes north latitude, and 104 degrees, 37.004 minutes west longitude. The wreckage was in a field in the rear of 2782 County Road 98, at an elevation of 6,939 feet msl.

CREW INFORMATION

The pilot, Christopher Keith Coffland, age 35, was born on January 7, 1963. He attended the United States Air Force Academy from August 1981 to June 1985, and was commissioned. He held Airline Transport Pilot Certificate No. 358625748, dated March 19, 1995, for multiengine land airplanes, with commercial privileges in single engine land airplanes and gliders (aero tow only). He also held a Flight Instructor Rating, dated February 9, 1996, for single and multiengine airplanes and instruments, and a Ground Instructor Rating, dated September 26, 1994, for advanced and instrument instruction. His first class airman medical certificate, dated June 23, 1997, contained no restrictions or limitations.

Three master logbooks and eight smaller pilot logbooks were submitted for examination. It was discovered that the flight times contained in seven of the smaller logbooks (and part of the eighth) had been transferred to the three master logbooks. These master logbooks contained entries from May 22, 1984, to May 24, 1989; May 25, 1989, to July 23, 1993; July 24, 1993, to November 29, 1997, respectively. The eighth logbook contained