# NTSB CEN10LA380: Champion 8KCAB, N56BC, Estes Park, CO, July 8, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 8, 2010, 12:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Estes Park, CO
- Coordinates: 40.4225, -105.773612 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4225&lon=-105.7736&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report August 7, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Denver FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 76570
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA380
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76570/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76570
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA380

## Probable cause

The pilot's decision to fly at a low altitude in mountainous terrain and weather conditions conducive to downdrafts.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 8KCAB, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2121000), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Aircraft capability: climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 8KCAB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md?model=2121000), [All aircraft, 183 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md)
- [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 8KCAB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=2121000), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-cruise: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [American Champion 8KCAB, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=2121000), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [American Champion 8KCAB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2121000), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [American Champion 8KCAB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2121000), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [American Champion 8KCAB, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2121000), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [American Champion 8KCAB, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2121000), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that when he was trying to fly across a mountain pass, the airplane encountered a strong downdraft. The pilot added full power but was unable to stop the airplane’s descent, so he performed a forced landing in a heavily forested area. No preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures were found that would have precluded normal operation. A review of weather radar and satellite imagery showed convective development at the accident location just before the accident. Postaccident interviews with personnel at the departure airport indicated that the pilot stated that he had not flown in the mountains before and that he took off despite warnings about the current weather and related mountain flying hazards.

## Factual narrative

On July 8, 2010, approximately 1230 mountain daylight time, an American Champion 8KCAB, airplane, N56BC, was substantially damaged when it impacted mountainous terrain in a wilderness area near Estes Park, Colorado. The two pilots sustained minor injuries. The airplane was owned and operated by a private individual, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The airplane departed the Greeley-Weld County Airport (GXY) Greeley, Colorado, at 1130 and was en route to Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (ASE) Aspen, Colorado. According to the pilot, he was attempting to cross a mountain pass and was performing a 180-degree turn to gain altitude. During the turn, the airplane encountered a strong downdraft. The pilot added full power but was unable to arrest the descent. The pilot performed a forced landing upslope in a very heavy forested area in a remote canyon. The elevation of the impact location was approximately 11,000 feet mean sea level. Both wings were bent aft and partially separated from the fuselage. No preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures were found that would have precluded normal operation. A review of weather radar and satellite imagery identified convective development at the accident location, just prior to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N56BC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N56BC-2018-01-25), registration cancelled 2018-01-25, S/N 1088-2009, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CHAMPION 8KCAB (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [American Champion 8KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-8kcab) (registry code 2121000) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-360-H1B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-h1b) (registry code 41883, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1088-2009
- Airframe hours: 46
- Engines: LYCOMING AEIO-360-H1B 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2010
- Departed: GXY, GREELEY, CO
- Destination: ASE, ASPEN, CO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2009; seat: front; flight hours: 11,420 total, 110 in this make and model, 11,756 as pilot in command, 65 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours
- Other flight crew; age 18; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 21, 2009; seat: rear; flight hours: 137 total, 56 in this make and model, 60 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.37 inHg
- Observed at: K20V, 35 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20100708038779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100708038779A), Jul 8, 2010: American Ch 8KCAB, Forrest Canyon, CO, Substantial damage. On July 8, 2010 at approximately 1430 mountain daylight time, an American champion 8KCAB, single-engine land airplane, N56BC, was substantially damaged when it…

## Docket (13 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 15, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76570. 7.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 420 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366903&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot's Response to Follow-up Questions (item 2, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368601&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Response%20to%20Follow-up%20Questions-Redacted.PDF
- Witness Phone Interview - Folchert (item 3, .PDF, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368602&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Phone%20Interview%20-%20Folchert-Redacted.PDF
- Operating Manual - Selected Pages (item 4, .PDF, 117 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368646&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Operating%20Manual%20-%20Selected%20Pages-Master.PDF
- Maps (item 5, .PDF, 567 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366904&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maps-Master.PDF
- Weather Summary (item 6, .PDF, 501 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368605&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Summary-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 - Preaccident Photo of N56BC (Internet Photo from Airport-Data.com) (item 7, .PDF, 230 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368607&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Preaccident%20Photo%20of%20N56BC%20%20(Internet%20Photo%20from%20Airport-Data.com)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 - Overall Frontal View (NPS Photo) (item 8, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368608&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Overall%20Frontal%20View%20%20(NPS%20Photo)-Master.PDF
- Photo 3 - View of Bottom of Left Side (ABC TV Channel 7 Photo) (item 9, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368609&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20View%20of%20Bottom%20of%20Left%20Side%20%20(ABC%20TV%20Channel%207%20Photo)-Master.PDF
- Photo 4 - Cockpit Instrument Panel and Engine (NPS Photo) (item 10, .PDF, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368633&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20-%20Cockpit%20Instrument%20Panel%20and%20Engine%20%20(NPS%20Photo)-Master.PDF
- Search and Rescue Events - Summary from National Park Service (item 11, .PDF, 113 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368644&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Search%20and%20Rescue%20Events%20-%20Summary%20from%20National%20Park%20Service-Redacted.PDF
- Search and Rescue Events - Summary From USAF Civil Air Patrol (item 12, .PDF, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368604&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Search%20and%20Rescue%20Events%20-%20Summary%20From%20USAF%20Civil%20Air%20Patrol-Master.PDF
- Statement from USAF Civil Air Patrol (item 13, .PDF, 170 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368603&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20from%20USAF%20Civil%20Air%20Patrol-Redacted.PDF

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.

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