Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Garfield, Colorado 81227
Sunday, July 7, 1996 13:45 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot crossed Salida Airport at 8,200 feet and approached Monarch Pass (elevation 11,312 feet) at 10,500 feet. The pilot said the engine 'popped twice' and power dropped 600-700 rpm from a setting of 2,450 rpm. The pilot attempted to land on U.S. Highway 50, but was forced to pull up and bank sharply due to an approaching vehicle. The airplane landed hard and collided with terrain. Postaccident functional testing of the engine resulted in full power being developed. The distance between Salida and Monarch Pass is 17.5 miles. Computed density altitude at Monarch Pass was 15,061 feet msl. According to the Beech Aircraft Company, at best rate of climb airspeed of 70 knots, the airplane would be capable of climbing 270 fpm and 50 fpm at 8,000 feet and 12,000 feet, respectively.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

a reported power loss for reasons undetermined.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/7/1996
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1345
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City GARFIELD
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 81227
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 5000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 15061
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 666
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 7 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1502
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:12AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5675S
NTSB Number FTW96LA293
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model A23-19
Aircraft Series Identifier A23-19
Aircraft Serial Number MB-112
Certified Max Gross Weight 2520
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 13 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GARY & SUSAN BATALELR
Aircraft Owner Street Address 15 ARCH ST.
Aircraft Owner City WESTBOROUGH
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 01581
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Ferry
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PUB
Departure City PUEBLO
Departure State CO
Departure Country
Departure Time 1200
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code HVE
Destination City HANKSVILLE
Destination State UT
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --