Colorado Pilots Association Flight Lines - October 2007 features President Sarah Jane Dolliver's safety message addressing the decline in general aviation accidents nationally and in Colorado, emphasizing that pilot error—particularly loss of control, takeoff/landing problems, and weather-related decisions—remains the primary cause of accidents. The newsletter also continues Bill Marvel's compelling two-part account of a 63-year reunion at a 1944 aircraft crash site near Kiowa, Colorado, where Marvel helps his father locate the exact spot where his friend Harold Humphrey perished, with assistance from local residents including 80-year-old Bryce Gresham who witnessed the original crash.
Key Topics
- General aviation accident statistics for 2006-2007 and trend analysis
- Pilot error as predominant cause of accidents (stalls, takeoff/landing failures, weather decisions)
- Decision-making and risk management in aviation safety
- Historic aircraft crash investigation and site location (1944 incident)
- Community assistance and local historical knowledge
Events & Activities
- August 9, 2007: Crash site reunion and search near Kiowa, Colorado; participants included Bill Marvel, his father, Bryce Gresham, Walt and Marv Maul, and aviation researcher Larry Carpenter
- Landing location: Kelly Airpark (private strip, approximately 15 miles from crash site)
Member News
- Bill Marvel: Featured in multi-part article documenting his efforts to help his father locate the 1944 aircraft crash site that claimed the life of family friend Harold Humphrey
- Frank Niehus and Dick Merring: Kelly Airpark owners who provided landing accommodations and logistical support for the reunion mission
- Bryce Gresham: 80-year-old local farmer who witnessed the 1944 crash at age 17 and offered to guide the group to within 100 feet of the crash site
