Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Garfield, Colorado 81227
Friday, July 11, 1997 12:40 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Witnesses observed the airplane approaching Monarch Pass at low altitude and airspeed. One witness said the wings were 'wobbling.' The airplane banked left, descended, and struck a power pole before colliding with an abandoned mine building. The airplane burned after impact. Family members said the pilot was an experienced mountain pilot, and had made several trips across Monarch Pass, never flying less than 2,000 feet above the highest obstacle. They said two passengers were visiting the United States for the first time; they surmised the pilot was flying at a low altitude to give them a better view of the landscape.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed, during a turn to reverse direction, which resulted in a stall and collision with a pole and a building. High density altiitude was a related factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/11/1997
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1240
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City GARFIELD
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 81227
Event Date Year 1997
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1255 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 255
Weather Observation Facility ID GUC
Elevation of weather observation facility 7673
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 37
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 9504
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 4
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 959
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 11 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1245
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:24PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5401K
NTSB Number FTW97FA262
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Ryan
Aircraft Model NAVION B
Aircraft Series Identifier NAVION B
Aircraft Serial Number NAV-4-2301-B
Certified Max Gross Weight 2850
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 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 3 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 17
Airframe Hours 4230
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BCW, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8714 SUDLEY RD.
Aircraft Owner City MANASSAS
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 22110
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code GRI
Departure City GRAND ISLAND
Departure State NE
Departure Country
Departure Time 947
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code GJT
Destination City GRAND JUNCTION
Destination State CO
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
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 --