# NTSB DEN83FA056: Navion G, N91774, Leadville, CO, February 7, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 7, 1983, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Leadville, CO
- Coordinates: 39.240703, -106.290908 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2407&lon=-106.2909&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15969
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83FA056
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15969/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83FA056

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - torque/p-factor - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - high terrain (cause)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED INTO A MOUNTAIN AT THE 12000 FT LEVEL IN BAD WEATHER DURING A CROSS-COUNTRY FLT. BEFORE TAKEOFF THE PILOT HAD BEEN ADVISED OF ADVERSE WEATHER ENROUTE WITH VFR FLT NOT RECOMMENDED. HE SAID HE WOULD FLY OUT TO CHECK THE WEATHER AND RETURN IF IT WAS TOO BAD. LATER HE CALLED ASPEN FOR A'FIX' OR AID IN RETURNING AND WAS TOLD HE WOULD HAVE TOCALL DENVER. A LOCAL RESIDENT HEARD THE PILOT TRYING TO CALL DENVER BUT CONTACT WAS NEVER MADE. SOMETIME LATER AN FLT SIGNAL WAS REPORTED. THE ACRT WAS FOUND THE FOLLOWING DAY IN A SNOW COVERED WILDERNESS AREA NEAR LEADVLLE CO.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N91774 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: NAVION G
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: NAV-4-488F
- Airframe hours: 2964
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-H 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Benton Bullock
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 21, 1982, 15 hours before
- Departed: ASE, ASPEN, CO
- Destination: COSA, COLORADO SPRING, CO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,050 total, 1,050 in this make and model, 11 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ASE, 25 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 19830207006369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830207006369A), Feb 7, 1983: Tmpson NAVIONG, Leadville, CO, Destroyed. Pilot attempted flight over mountains in adverse weather conditions. Pilot was advised VFR not recommended.

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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