# Accident 19970423046989A: Socata TB-20 TRINIDAD, Pagosa Spgs, CO, April 23, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 23, 1997, 13:37 local time
- Place: Pagosa Spgs, CO
- Damage: Destroyed
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.2406° N, 107.0305° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2406&lon=-107.0305&mi=10
- Aircraft: N20NK, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N20NK-1998-11-24) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Socata TB-20 TRINIDAD (registry code 8680695, https://openairdocs.org/model/socata-tb-20-trinidad) (OpenAirDocs)
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW97FA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97FA166) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970423046989A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-16) ON APRIL 23, 1997, N20NK, WAS REPORTED MISSING BY THE PILOT'S FAMILY WHEN THE AIRCRAFT FAILED TO ARRIVE AT CENTENNIAL AIRPORT, ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO, ON A FLIGHT FROM SEDONA, ARIZONA. THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND ON APRIL 28, 1997, ON THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN AT N37:03.45, W106:38.13. TERRAIN ELEVATION WAS 11,500 FEET MSL. THE LOCATION IS APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES SOUTHEAST OF PAGOSA SPRINGS, COLORADO. THE AIRCRAFT BURNED AND THE PILOT RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. A VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS ON FILE. THE PILOT REPORTED TO ATC HE WAS PICKING UP ICE AND REQUESTRED IFR AND A CLIMB. DUE TO CONFLICTING TRAFFIC, A CLIMB COULD NOT BE IMMEDIATELY ISSUED AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO DESCEND. WEATHER IN THE ACCICENT AREA AT THE TIME WAS REPORTED BY LOCAL PERSONS TO BE OVERCAST SKIES WITH THE MOUNTAINS OBSCURED BY CLOUDS. AT THE PRESENT TIME, ACCESS TO THE SITE FOR WRECKAGE DOCUMENTATION IS NOT FEASIBLE DUE TO SNOW DEPTH & AVALANCHE DANGER.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW97FA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97FA166), Apr 23, 1997: Socata TB-20 (N20NK), Pagosa Springs, CO, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: inadvertent flight by the pilot into known adverse weather conditions, and his failure to maintain altitude or clearance from terrain. Factors relating to the accident were: low ceiling, rain, snow,…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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