- Date
- July 26, 1986, 07:40 local (13:40 UTC)
- Place
- Boulder, CO
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 2 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA reports
- 19860726034951A19860726034952A
- Case key
- 16836
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The purpose of the flt for both acft was an aerial photo mission. N5113S was used as the camera platform. The plts of N5113S and N4346L discussed prior to takeoff the procedures of the flt. Both acft departed and flew a course to position the airplanes on a southerly heading. N5113S was to the east and slightly above and ahead of N4346L. The photographer shot one roll of film and reloaded. He was ready to begin shooting when N4346L began to close in on N5113S. The plt of N5113S felt two 'bumps' as N4346L closed, and did not see the acft pass under. The plt of N5113S maneuvered his acft to determine controllability and saw N4346L spiralling to the ground. Exam of N4346L revealed the vert stab and rudder had separated in-flight. There were numerous paint smears found on the right side of N5113S.
The purpose of the flt for both acft was an aerial photo mission. N5113S was used as the camera platform. The plts of N5113S and N4346L discussed prior to takeoff the procedures of the flt. Both acft departed and flew a course to position the airplanes on a southerly heading. N5113S was to the east and slightly above and ahead of N4346L. The photographer shot one roll of film and reloaded. He was ready to begin shooting when N4346L began to close in on N5113S. The plt of N5113S felt two 'bumps' as N4346L closed, and did not see the acft pass under. The plt of N5113S maneuvered his acft to determine controllability and saw N4346L spiralling to the ground. Exam of N4346L revealed the vert stab and rudder had separated in-flight. There were numerous paint smears found on the right side on N5113S.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N4346L
- Reported as
- Piper PA-46-310P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 46-8408038
- Airframe hours
- 382
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-520-BE1, 310 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Part 91
- Operator
- Lowell T. Dugan, doing business as Four Winds Aviation
- Registered owner
- High Winds Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 25, 1986 · 0 hours before
- Departed
- IV5
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
- Registration
- N5113S
- Reported as
- Cessna TR-182
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- R18201507
- Airframe hours
- 1,362
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-L3C5D, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Operator
- John Barkin
- Registered owner
- Mays Aircraft Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 11, 1986 · 68 hours before
- Departed
- IV5
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N4346L
- Age
- 41
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,255 total · 83 in this make and model · 1,104 as pilot in command · 25 in the last 90 days
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N5113S
- Age
- 41
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,343 total · 114 in this make and model · 1,245 as pilot in command · 210 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 310° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 75 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BJC, 12 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.