Pilot Diverted For Bad Weather

Below is the unedited Preliminary Report from the National Transportation Safety Board on an accident involving a Cirrus SR20 in Kremmling, CO. As Aero-News reported, the two people onboard -- a father and his young son -- were found alive several hours after their plane impacted mountainous terrain while executing a missed approach.

Like we said at the time, it could have been A LOT worse... as according to the NTSB, poor weather at 16,000 feet led the pilot to divert to the mountain valley airport -- where conditions, evidently, weren't much better -- Ed.

NTSB Identification: DEN06FA114
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, August 15, 2006 in Kremmling, CO
Aircraft: Cirrus Design Corp. SR20, registration: N8127J
Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 Minor.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On August 15, 2006, approximately 2230 mountain daylight time, a Cirrus Design Corporation SR20 single-engine airplane, N8127J, was destroyed when it impacted mountainous terrain while maneuvering near Mc Elroy Airfield (20V), Kremmling, Colorado. The commercial pilot sustained serious injuries and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated by West Valley Flying Club, Palo Alto, California, and registered to NIV Aviation, Los Alto Hills, California. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight departed Cedar City Regional Airport, Cedar City, Utah, approximately 1830, with a planned destination to Jeffco Airport, Denver, Colorado.

According to the pilot and preliminary air traffic control communications, prior to departure from Cedar City, he obtained a standard weather briefing via telephone. While en route at 16,000 feet mean sea level (msl), the airplane encountered rain and moderate turbulence. While in communication with Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC), the pilot requested to "reroute around the weather." Due to the continued rain and turbulence, the pilot requested to divert to an alternate airport. Denver ARTCC informed the pilot that 20V had an instrument approach. Subsequently, the pilot elected to attempt to land at Mc Elroy Airfield (20V), Kremmling, Colorado. During the approach, the pilot stated the airplane "broke out near the decision height altitude;" however, he could not see the runway and elected to initiate a missed approach. During the missed approach, the airplane impacted mountainous terrain approximately 4 miles west of 20V. Search and rescue operations located the airplane approximately 0615 on August 16, 2006.

The airplane impacted rock and sagebrush covered terrain and came to rest upright at an elevation of 8,350 feet msl. The wreckage debris path measured approximately 150 feet in length on a measured magnetic heading of 250 degrees. Examination of the airplane revealed the underside of the fuselage was crushed and the fiberglass was fragmented. The nose and main landing gears were separated. The leading edges of the left and right wings were partially delaminated and punctured. The engine was partially separated from the firewall and remained attached via engine control cables. The two propeller blades displayed leading edge gouging, forward bending, and both blade tips were separated. The Cirrus Airplane Parachute System (CAPS) was not deployed.

At 2231, the 20V automated surface observing system (ASOS) reported the wind from 290 degrees at 7 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, rain, sky scattered at 3,300 feet above ground level (agl), broken at 5,000 feet agl and overcast at 8,000 feet agl, temperature 15 degrees Celsius, dew point 9 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.34 inches of Mercury.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov