# NTSB DEN74DTE59: Sampson B, N246H, Hesperus, CO, March 23, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: March 23, 1974
- Place: Hesperus, CO · HESPERUS, CO
- Location: 37.2861° N, 108.0395° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Hesperus, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2861&lon=-108.0395&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 12, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 186673
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN74DTE59
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN74DTE59

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0320  74/3/23    HESPERUS,COLO       SAMPSON B           CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1600                    N246H               PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  34, 4210 TOTAL HOURS, 22
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          AZTEC,N MEX                 MONTICELLO,UT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DISREGARD OF GOOD OPERATING PRACTICE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      50
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          335                                                       25
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- RISING TERRAIN AND DOWNDRAFTS TRAPPED AIRCRAFT. DENSITY ALTITUDE 10000 FEET.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N246H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N246H-1975-08-29), registration cancelled 1975-08-29, S/N MLS-2 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SAMPSON B
- Registry model: [Sampson B](https://openairdocs.org/model/sampson-b) (registry code 05601ZQ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19740323005639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740323005639A), Mar 23, 1974: Kinner SPORTSTERK, Hesperus, CO, Substantial damage. Rising terrain and downdrafts trapped aircraft. Density altitude 10000 feet.

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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