What happened
The aircraft arrived at Rueblow, Colorado, on a return flight from Texas with the primary intention of refueling. Upon landing, the pilot exited the aircraft and inquired with a female attendant about the availability of open liquor stores in the vicinity. Approximately thirty minutes later, the pilot returned to the airport accompanied by a taxi cab driver.
During the ride back to the airfield, the taxi driver observed the pilot consuming the contents of a bottle containing clear liquid, estimated to be approximately half a pint. After arriving at the ramp area, the pilot proceeded to the aircraft and initiated a takeoff attempt on a taxiway that connects the general aviation ramp with the intersections of Runway 8L and Runway 35.
The aircraft failed to achieve flight during this ground roll. It ran off the end of the taxiway and impacted rough terrain, resulting in damage to the airframe.
The investigation
Investigation of the incident revealed that the pilot had ingested a significant amount of alcohol shortly before attempting to operate the aircraft. The specific mechanical condition of the aircraft was not cited as a factor in the failure to become airborne; rather, the sequence of events pointed to pilot impairment and improper use of ground infrastructure.
Findings
The critical factors leading to this accident included:
- alcohol consumption by the pilot prior to flight operations
- The pilot's decision to attempt takeoff from a taxiway rather than a designated runway
- Failure to achieve sufficient airspeed or lift before reaching the end of the available pavement
These actions resulted in the aircraft overrunning the taxiway and striking rough terrain.