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Casualties unknown

General Aviation Aircraft Overdue and Found in Box Canyon (N7509Q)

Crestone, CO, US

On June 29, 1989, a Cessna 310Q (registration N7509Q) was involved in an aviation accident near Crestone, CO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT AND HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO SAFELY CLEAR THE MOUNTAINS. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, BOX CANYON, AND HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards

A general aviation aircraft carrying a pilot and passengers was overdue after a refueling stop in Omaha, Nebraska. The wreckage was later found in a box canyon near Mount Eureka at an elevation of about 12,000 feet.

Flight Details and Disappearance Report The aircraft was en route from California to Pennsylvania, with planned refueling stops at Pagosa Springs, Colorado, and Omaha, Nebraska. Around 1030 MDT, the pilot telephoned his daughter in Omaha and said they would be arriving in the early afternoon. When the aircraft failed to arrive in Omaha, relatives reported it overdue. ## Wreckage Location and Site Conditions The wreckage was located in a box canyon at an elevation of about 12,000 feet. The canyon terminated at Mount Eureka, which had an elevation of 13,931 feet. The density altitude of the crash site was calculated to be 15,921 feet. ## Post-Crash Examination and Weather A post-crash examination of the aircraft and engines revealed evidence of normal operation. Weather in the area was reported to be clear with 50-mile visibility.

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Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001213X28548. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.