ANC26FA097

On September 3, 2026, about 1518 mountain daylight time, a Cessna T206H airplane, N919CW, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Dunton, Colorado. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The flight was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 aerial survey flight. According to the operator the pilot and camera operator departed Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT) Grand Junction, Colorado, completed their survey work and were returning to Belen Regional Airport (BRG) Belen, New Mexico, about 300 nautical miles south-southeast. The pilot was receiving VFR flight following from Denver Center and had been advised radio coverage may be intermitted due to the mountainous terrain. Review of preliminary automatic dependent system broadcast (ADS-B) data revealed the airplane departed GJT about 1341 and conducted aerial survey operations for about 45 minutes and then proceeded southeast between about 8,500 to 10,900 ft mean sea level (msl). The pilot’s route of flight took them slightly east of Dolores Peak, a 13,289 ft mountain with a ridgeline that extends from the peak to the east. On the flight earlier in the day from BRG to GJT the airplane passed over a ridgeline about 1.5 miles east of Dolores Peak, about 500 ft above ground level (agl). As the airplane approached Dolores Peak on the return flight, about 2 minutes from the ridgeline the airplane was about 500 ft agl and 101 knots. About 1 minute later and 1 mile from the accident site the airplane was 50 ft agl and 80 knots. At 1518 the airplane made a slight right turn and impacted trees and terrain. The final ADS-B target was located above the accident site. A hiker in the area stated that it was windier than normal the day of the accident. Figure 1 Preliminary Flight Track Data; Final segment of the accident flight track of N919CW with track details. The airplane impacted heavily wooded rising terrain in a wings level attitude at an elevation of 10,770 ft msl and was orientated on a 300° magnetic heading. The debris path was about 340 ft long and contained all major components of the airplane. The initial tree strike separated the left horizontal stabilizer. The left wing came to rest near the cockpit and fuselage. The right wing came to rest about 25 ft beyond the main wreckage. Flight control continuity was partially established; complete continuity could not be confirmed due to impact and thermal damage. Portions of the flight control cables were fragmented due to a large tree trunk; the breaks were consistent with impact overload. The engine was separated from its mounts and was located near the main wreckage and exhibited thermal damage. The propeller was separated from the engine; two of the three propeller blades were observed. One blade was straight, the other exhibited minor s-bending with a deep trailing edge gouge about mid-span of the de-ice boot. The wreckage was recovered and retained for further examination.