Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pagosa Springs, Colorado 81147
Sunday, May 2, 1999 13:40 MDT

The pilot and his wife departed Front Range en route to Pagosa Springs to visit family members. Prior to departure, the pilot obtained several weather briefings by accessing GTE's DUAT system, which called for AIRMETs for instrument conditions, mountain obscuration, turbulence and icing. The forecast was for widely scattered rain showers with low ceilings and visibility. After contacting Denver Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) and requesting that his flight plan be activated, the briefer asked the pilot if he had received the forecasted AIRMETs. The pilot acknowledged that he had. The pilot's brother, who lived in the accident area, observed the deteriorating weather. He called the departure airport to advise the pilot to delay the flight, and was told that they had already departed. The aircraft became the subject of an ALNOT when it failed to arrive at its destination. On the evening of May 4, the airplane was located along the east side of Pagosa Peak at the 11,000 foot level. Satellite data indicated that extensive cloud cover was present in the area, and several witnesses driving through the pass near the time of the accident were unable to view the peaks of the pass due to obscuration.

The pilot's disregard of the adverse weather forecast, and his flight into known adverse weather by flying into instrument meteorological conditions. Factors were the existing weather conditions that included low ceilings, obscuration, and icing conditions, and the mountainous, rising terrain.