20020310003509A

(.19) On March 10, 2002, at 2019 mountain standard time, a Mooney M20C, N1323D, owned and operated by the pilot, impacted terrain during a steep descent about 16 miles north-northeast of Glenwood springs. The private pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal night cross-country flight being conducted under title 14 CFR (code of federal regulations) part 91. The flight originated at kremmling, Colorado, approximately 1946. Radar data indicates that after takeoff, the pilot took up a direct heading to grand junction, Colorado, his destination, located 148 miles southwest of kremmling. When the airplane was 57 miles southwest of kremmling, it made a wide turn to the left of approximately 450 degrees, followed immediately by a tight turn to the right of approximately 360 degrees. Two radar antenna sites were used to track the airplane. The first site lost radar contact at 2019:19 when the target was at 13,500 feet MSL (above mean sea level). The second site lost radar contact at 2019:33, when the target was at 10,500 feet MSL, a difference of 14 seconds and 3,000 feet. There will be an on-site wreckage examination when weather conditions improve. Rescuers reported finding a large crater, with wreckage confined to an area within 25 feet of the crater. (-23) on March 10, 2002, at 2019 MST, Mooney M20C, N1323D, owned and operated by the pilot, impacted terrain during a steep descent approximately 16 miles north-northeast of Glenwood springs, CO. Radar data indicates the aircraft flew from kremming, CO. Directly to gypsum, CO. Where it made a wide slow turn of 450 degrees followed by a tight right turn of approximately 360 degrees with a loss of 3,000 feet in a 14 second time period. Aircraft impacted mountain in very deep snow. Waiting for better conditions to access site. (.4) history of flight: on March 10, 2002, at 2019 mountain standard time, a Mooney M20C, N1323D, owned and operated by the pilot, was destroyed when it impacted terrain about 16 miles north-northeast of Glenwood springs, Colorado. The private pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being operated under title 14 CFR (code of federal regulations) part 91. The flight originated at kremmling, Colorado, approximately 1946, and was en route to grand junction, Colorado. According to a friend of the pilot who lived in kremmling, she received a telephone call from him some time after 1700. He told her that his wife had left for Washington state to be with their daughter who was expecting a child soon, and he was hoping to fly over from grand junction that evening to see her. Approximately 1850, she received another telephone call from the pilot, telling her he was at the kremmling airport. She drove to the airport and, according to her statement, they sat in her car and made plans for the coming weekend. He told her that his trip from grand junction had been "pretty smooth" and his speed had been 125 mph, increasing to about 200 mph as he descended over the mountains. Prior to his departure, the pilot preflighted his airplane as "he always did." She said that he was in "a very good mood," and happy about being able to see her that weekend. She said he departed kremmling between 1930 and 2000 to return to grand junction. When the pilot failed toarrive in grand junction, FAA was notified and an alnot (alert notification) was issued on March 11 at 2241. The alnot was cancelled on March 12 at 1747 when national guard helicopters, aided by a weak ELT (emergency locator transmitter) signal, located the wreckage in mountainous terrain at a location of 30 degrees, 43.202' north latitude, and 107 degrees, 13.406' west longitude.