Champion 8KCAB N56BC

Summary

On 8 July 2010 at about 18:30 local time, a Champion 8KCAB registered N56BC was involved in an accident near Estes Park, Colorado, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 July 2010 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Estes Park, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

40.4225, -105.7736

Aircraft

Champion 8KCAB

Registration

N56BC

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Greeley → Aspen

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN10LA380

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's decision to fly at a low altitude in mountainous terrain and weather conditions conducive to downdrafts.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that when he was trying to fly across a mountain pass, the airplane encountered a strong downdraft. The pilot added full power but was unable to stop the airplane’s descent, so he performed a forced landing in a heavily forested area. No preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures were found that would have precluded normal operation. A review of weather radar and satellite imagery showed convective development at the accident location just before the accident. Postaccident interviews with personnel at the departure airport indicated that the pilot stated that he had not flown in the mountains before and that he took off despite warnings about the current weather and related mountain flying hazards.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.