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2020 plane crash near Telluride that killed newlyweds likely caused by pilot flying too low in mountains, NTSB says
An October 2020 plane crash near Telluride that left a young couple dead days after they got married was likely caused by the pilot’s decision to fly his single-engine propeller plane into an area with tall mountains before gaining enough altitude, according to federal air crash investigators. (coloradosun.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
I pulled the airport up in X-Plane being a pretty well-seasoned flight sim hobbyist. I tried two planes, Cessna 172 and the mentioned aircraft respectfully. Right off the runway past V2 both planes struggled beyond comfort dealing with the altitude alone. It was so bad it left me wondering how that plane got there in the first place other than hugging ridges and canyons. RBT Schaffer's description seems most accurate. For those aircraft, there's no way out or up there less a pilot flies low so the description seems odd to me. The simulation raised my eyebrows as to how dangerous it is. A general aviation pilot would be well served to fly it in the sim first. Just my two cents, and my condolences to the family.
Here's one you can't pull up any more.. I flew some friends into the old Breckenridge airport ~ 9400 ft high gravel strip in a T-206. It was a one way strip due to the blind valley to the East. We were getting a little beat up due to thermal bumps and a girl in back likely a bit oxygen deprived and napping woke up and said 'Are we going to die'... Only other words were 'Shut UP Amy'... Wasn't all that bad a trip really, but once committed and still at a few hundred ft altitude the go-no go decision to land is final... No shakey go around playing in a blind valley .. Committed to land while still at safe altitude and speed ... This airport no longer exists. 1974 -75?
Density Altitude was 13600ft@TEX - 9100MSL. He departed westbound and turned immediately to east into the box canyon east of Telluride. Mountains to east are 12k to 13k then add density altitude. Where was his POH or common sense? He must have left them in FLorida where highest terrain is 350ft. That old Bananas needs a lot of care in those hills.
Very, very sad.
I learned to fly in the western mountains and you had to know that the terrain raises faster than most planes can climb. And, never try to cross the big ones (Sierra and CO Rockies) without a lot of altitude usually 2k+ ft. That eliminates a lot of our old airplanes.
Very, very sad.
I learned to fly in the western mountains and you had to know that the terrain raises faster than most planes can climb. And, never try to cross the big ones (Sierra and CO Rockies) without a lot of altitude usually 2k+ ft. That eliminates a lot of our old airplanes.
I can't second guess the reasons for the crash. From my house I can almost see where they landed. Right after the cash, looking at flight history for N4444K showed several sightseeing trips up the valley and turns in/around the face of Black Bear pass as the road comes down into Telluride. That history is no longer accessible on Flight Aware. As I recall, they made flights near the area of the crash the very same day they ultimately crashed.
Even now, the last flight shows they hardly climbed. Standard departure for TEX is down valley unless winds do not allow. Even if you take off up valley on 9, you turn right over the ski area and then head down valley. Only the fighter jets that train every other week over TEX flight straight up the valley and climb out.
Example of the right way to do it. These F16s have a bit more power. :) The plane in question crashed at the end of the valley where these guys power up and over to make a pass in Silverton. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VvImIoqLbQ
Even now, the last flight shows they hardly climbed. Standard departure for TEX is down valley unless winds do not allow. Even if you take off up valley on 9, you turn right over the ski area and then head down valley. Only the fighter jets that train every other week over TEX flight straight up the valley and climb out.
Example of the right way to do it. These F16s have a bit more power. :) The plane in question crashed at the end of the valley where these guys power up and over to make a pass in Silverton. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VvImIoqLbQ
Air speed and altitude, I am told you must have both to fly. Another tragic accident, so sad.
Scott Perdue did 2 video analyses of what the probable cause was. And he obtained information from associates of the pilot. The pilot was not flying home, nor was he trying to climb over the ridges. He had done a sightseeing flight earlier that day, to identify a placement of the wedding photographer to shoot he and his wife flying low over Bridal Falls from the ground. the second flight was to obtain this wedding photograph. So then he got into trouble in a low, flat turn at high density altitude and the plane crashed in a stall/spin as a result.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvV4cutkGdM&t=61s (S35 Telluride Accident Update)
This pilot violated the 3D's: Don't do anything Dumb, Dangerous or Different! (without planning, training and careful consideration of all the factors that can kill you)