Piper PA-31-350 N161RB

Summary

On 24 September 2001 at about 15:04 local time, a Piper PA-31-350 registered N161RB, operated by Key Lime Air, was involved in an accident near Pagosa Springs, Colorado, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 September 2001 at 15:04

Classification

Accident

Location

Pagosa Springs, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

37.4947, -107.3503

Aircraft

Piper PA-31-350

Registration

N161RB

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Key Lime Air

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Alamosa → Durango

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN01FA161

2 people died.

the flight crews' intentional low altitude flight, and failure to maintain obstacle clearance.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was on a non-scheduled cargo flight which was projected to fly an approximate 240 degree course for 92 nm. The accident site was located on a heavily forested steep mountain side, 15 to 16 nm north of the airplane's projected course. The debris field began at an east-west ridge line, and progressed for 300 feet on a 010 degree track to the downed airplane. Examination of the airframe and engines revealed no evidence of preimpact discrepancies. The accident site was in an area where the Fall color of the aspens was at its peak. Additionally, it was an area where elk were sometimes observed.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.