ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 235473
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Thursday 23 April 2020 |
| Time: | 21:39 |
| Type: |  Ted Smith Aerostar 601B |
| Owner/operator: | Tiadaghton Aviation Inc |
| Registration: | N601X |
| MSN: | 61-0393-117 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1977 |
| Engine model: | Lycoming TIO-540 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Craig, CO -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Fort Collins/Loveland-Northern Colorado Regional Airport, CO (FNL/KFNL) |
| Unknown Airport, CA | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The student pilot, who was not qualified to operate the airplane, reportedly flew from California to Pennsylvania on a commercial flight the morning of the accident to pick up and fly the accident airplane, which he purchased, to California. The student pilot departed Pennsylvania at 0719 and made several en route stops before arriving at the departure airport at 1949. A witness stated that the airplane’s right engine quit during taxi at the last en route stop and the pilot said he "cut it a little close on fuel." Another witness said that the pilot was “really tired” and planned to fly over the mountains for his return flight.
The student pilot was not in communications with air traffic control while en route from the departure airport and did not receive an instrument flight rules clearance to operate the flight in class A airspace as required by Federal Aviation Regulations. The airplane was not equipped with automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast as required for flight in class A airspace.
Radar track data indicate the airplane last departed from Fort Collins, Colorado, and maneuvered while climbing to 16,000 ft. The airplane proceeded west/southwest for a little over 40 miles before climbing to about 22,000 ft. The airplane then made several large heading changes and altitude changes between 20,000 ft and 23,000 ft before entering a tight looping turn to the left and losing altitude rapidly before track data was lost.
All components of the airplane were distributed along the wreckage path in a manner consistent with a low-angle, high-speed impact with terrain. The airplane was destroyed. A green cylindrical tank consistent in color with an oxygen tank was separated from the airframe and was found along the wreckage path. Portions of pneumatic lines were attached to the tank and exhibited impact damage and separations from impact. Due to accident-related damage, the amount of the tank’s contents prior to the accident are unknown, and the functionality, if any, of the oxygen system is unknown.
The reason for the airplane’s impact with terrain could not be determined based on available evidence.
Probable Cause: The student pilot’s flight into terrain for undetermined reasons.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://www.craigdailypress.com/news/moffat-county-sheriffs-office-investigating-thursday-night-plane-crash-in-western-part-of-moffat-county/?fbclid=IwAR0YaufkaIY4SGl-2x_hd_xc-iQgj_24LGFIk4258seeucTyszX_90WBIbA
https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/pilot-killed-small-plane-crash-moffat-county-colorado/73-5b64b7a7-a1fc-4316-b62f-35271cedce9e
FAA
NTSB
https://photos-e1.flightcdn.com/photos/retriever/39c71502a23b97e5770e45c64a0d819c97021670 (photo)
Location
Images:
Photo(c): NTSB
Media:
NTSB investigating crash Thursday, April 23, of a Smith Aerostar 601 airplane in Craig, CO. NTSB is not traveling to scene of the crash at this time.
— NTSB_Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) April 24, 2020
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Apr-2020 18:22 | Captain Adam | Added |
| 24-Apr-2020 23:34 | Captain Adam | Updated [Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Location, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 24-Apr-2020 23:38 | Captain Adam | Updated [Total occupants, Other fatalities] |
| 25-Apr-2020 16:52 | Geno | Updated [Time, Location, Phase, Departure airport, Source] |
| 27-Apr-2020 13:06 | RobertMB | Updated [Time, Registration, Cn, Operator, Nature, Source, Narrative] |
| 27-Apr-2020 15:13 | RobertMB | Updated [Aircraft type, Narrative] |
| 08-May-2020 05:08 | Captain Adam | Updated [Destination airport, Damage, Narrative] |
| 27-Oct-2020 07:19 | rvargast17 | Updated [Time, Source] |
| 16-Mar-2022 18:51 | Captain Adam | Updated [Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Category, Accident report, Photo] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation