On January 12, 1988, a Cessna T303 (registration N9565T) operated by Amspray Sales Corporation was involved in an aviation accident near Kiowa, CO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's decision to operate an aircraft in instrument meteorological conditions without an instrument rating, compounded by blizzard weather conditions and his medical restrictions. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot without instrument or night ratings departed Aurora, Colorado, into severe weather. The aircraft disappeared from radar and crashed near the Kiowa VORTAC, resulting in fatalities.
What happened
The pilot obtained two weather briefings before filing an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan to El Paso, Texas. Despite being uninstrument-rated, the aircraft departed Aurora Municipal Airport (APA) at 1959 and vanished from radar coverage at 2010. The crash site was located approximately 11.5 miles southeast of the Kiowa VORTAC and 36 miles southeast of APA. Radar data indicated a 15-mile wide band of snow showers southeast of the Kiowa VORTAC. Ground witnesses reported blizzard conditions at the time of the incident.
The investigation
Investigation of the pilot's medical status revealed significant restrictions. The pilot's medical certificate explicitly stated that it was 'not valid for night flight or by color control.' An autopsy disclosed a myxomatous alteration of the mitral valve, consistent with mitral valve prolapse, also known as floppy mitral valve.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to the accident included the pilot's decision to fly into severe weather without appropriate instrument ratings. The presence of blizzard conditions and snow showers posed significant hazards that the pilot was not qualified to navigate. Additionally, the pilot's medical restrictions regarding night flight and color control were critical limitations that should have prevented such a flight.
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to operate an aircraft in instrument meteorological conditions without an instrument rating, compounded by blizzard weather conditions and his medical restrictions.