Flight Sequence
The pilot of N6400E contacted the Flight Service Station at 1341 MST, stating he had already received some real-time weather information and requested only the weather at Durango and Farmington, New Mexico. He filed an IFR flight plan to Durango and took off at 1437.
During arrival, the pilot attempted to get into visual flight conditions to land at Pagosa Springs, approximately 30 miles east-northeast of Durango. He was unable to do so and continued to the filed destination. An ILS/DME approach to Runway 2 was made to circle and land on Runway 20 at Durango.
Accident Details
At 1925:44, the pilot radioed that he had the airport in sight. The aircrew of Sunwest Flight 204 observed N6400E break out in the clear and enter a left downwind for Runway 20. They lost sight of N6400E as it was abeam of the approach end of Runway 20. Approximately 5 seconds later, the copilot of Flight 204 saw the lights of N6400E break out of the clouds, and about 1 second later, he saw "a large green ball of fire."
Examination of the crash site revealed that the aircraft struck a power line about 30 to 35 feet above ground level while configured for landing, then crashed. The elevation of the uncontrolled airport was 6685 feet, and the circling minimum descent altitude was 7100 feet. Wind was gusting to 12 knots.