Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Howard, Colorado 81233
Saturday, March 10, 2001 8:55 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot departed for a cross-country flight. No record could be found that the pilot received a preflight weather briefing or any in-flight weather advisories. A partial radar track indicated that the airplane was flying at 1,000 feet to 2,000 feet agl, at an average ground speed of 124 knots. Radar data and weather records indicate that the airplane flew up the Arkansas River Valley into deteriorating weather conditions. A winter storm warning was issued, at 0654, from Pueblo Regional Forecast Office (National Weather Service), for potentially heavy snow, and potential areas of blowing and drifting snow resulting in poor visibility. The airplane impacted mountainous terrain approximately 8,600 feet msl. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of any pre-impact discrepancies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's continuation of a VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions, and his subsequent failure to maintain terrain clearance. Contributing factors were his failure to obtain a preflight weather briefing, and his failure to obtain any in-flight weather advisories.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/10/2001
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 855
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Howard
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 81233
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 382806N
Event Location Longitude 1055535W
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 Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 757 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 340
Weather Observation Facility ID 7V1
Elevation of weather observation facility 7945
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Overcast
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Obscured
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.97
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 12036
NTSB Notification Source FAA NW OPERATIONS CENTER
NTSB Notification Date Mar 12 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 727
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 25 2002 9:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Denver, CO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N222ED
NTSB Number DEN01FA066
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model T210L
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 21060527
Certified Max Gross Weight 3800
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 1 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 12
Airframe Hours 1663
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Leo J. Leonardi
Aircraft Owner Street Address 248 Crestone Ave
Aircraft Owner City Salida
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 81201
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 OK07
Departure City Hollis
Departure State OK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 510
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 0V2
Destination City Salida
Destination State CO
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 8 2002 4:49PM
User who most recently changed record MCBM
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --