History of the Flight
On February 16, 2014, at approximately 1126 mountain standard time, a Beech 35-33, registration N400DJ, struck mountainous terrain about half a mile west of the Telluride Regional Airport (KTEX) in Telluride, Colorado. The aircraft was operated by Arizona Cloudbusters Flying Club under 14 CFR Part 91 as a training flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight operated on an IFR flight plan. The intended destination was Cortez Municipal Airport (KCEZ), Colorado.
According to the flying club president, the flight was part of a checkout for the female airline transport pilot (ATP) to become a new member. The airplane had likely departed Stellar Airpark (P19) in Chandler, Arizona, with a full fuel load and flown directly to Telluride. From there, the plan was to continue to Cortez for refueling and then return to Chandler.
A text message from the flight instructor to a family member at 1040 indicated they had landed in Telluride. At 1120, he sent another message stating they would take off in five minutes. Airport employees reported that the three pilots visited the fixed-base operator, took refreshments, and purchased t-shirts. At 1108, a pilot called on UNICOM to report taxiing for departure, and at 1118, they reported taking the runway. A camera at the airport recorded the airplane departing runway 27 and passing the alpha 3 intersection at 1120:26.
At 1120:38, the Denver Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) contacted Denver Center Sector 12 to request a clearance for N400DJ. The controller provided an IFR clearance via AFSS: from Telluride to Cortez via the departure procedure to Cones, direct Dove Creek, then direct Cortez at 14,000 feet. The flight was instructed to contact Denver Center after leaving 11,000 feet, and the clearance was void if not departed by 1130. The flight plan had not been filed with Denver AFSS, FAA, or DUATS; the source used by the pilots could not be determined.
Radar data showed the airplane beginning its takeoff roll at 1125:15. The last radar return was at 1126:27, just off the departure end of runway 27, at an altitude of 9,000 feet mean sea level. The pilots never contacted air traffic control, and an Alert Notification was issued. The wreckage was located later that evening by search and rescue volunteers. There were no known witnesses.
Personnel Information
The female ATP, aged 56, held an airline transport pilot certificate with multiple type ratings and a flight instructor certificate. She reported 13,300 total flight hours, with 400 in the past six months. Her instrument currency and time in the accident make/model were not established.
The flight instructor, aged 48, held an ATP certificate with single- and multi-engine land ratings and a flight instructor certificate. He reported 1,166 total hours, with 29 in the past six months. His instrument currency and time in the accident make/model were not established.
The male ATP passenger, aged 64, held an ATP certificate with multi-engine land rating and type ratings in several aircraft. He reported 28,000 total hours, with 300 in the past six months. He had completed his checkout in the accident airplane the week prior.
Aircraft Information
The accident airplane was a 1960 Beech 35-33 (serial number CD-40) equipped with a Continental Motors IO-470-N11B engine rated at 260 horsepower and a two-blade Hartzell propeller. It was maintained under an annual inspection program; the last annual was November 1, 2013, at 4,509.6 hours airframe time. The last maintenance was January 28, 2014. The engine had been installed under a supplemental type certificate on November 1, 2013, replacing the original IO-470-J engine.
Meteorological Information
Infrared satellite imagery showed overcast clouds over the accident site with tops around 23,000 feet. Doppler weather radar indicated light precipitation. The National Weather Service had issued an AIRMET for moderate turbulence below flight level 180. The closest official weather observation, from Telluride Airport at 1135, reported wind 080° at 4 knots, visibility 1.5 miles with light snow, broken clouds at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet, temperature 0°C, dew point -1°C, altimeter 30.17 inches. Density altitude was calculated at 9,230 feet; pressure altitude at 8,840 feet. There was no record of any pilot obtaining a weather briefing from FAA Flight Service or DUATS.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The accident site was in steep mountainous terrain, 300 feet below a cliff band, half a mile west of the departure end of runway 27, at an elevation of 8,760 feet. The airplane impacted on a magnetic heading of 270°. The wreckage was impact and fire damaged. The propeller separated and was located uphill from the main wreckage. The fuselage was charred and partially consumed by fire; instruments were destroyed. The right wing showed impact damage; the right flap was in a retracted position. The left wing also exhibited impact and fire damage with the left flap retracted. The empennage was not damaged. Control continuity was confirmed to the forward fuselage but not to the cockpit controls due to fire and impact damage.
Medical and Pathological Information
Autopsies concluded that all three pilots died from multiple traumatic injuries. Toxicological tests for the female ATP were negative for ethanol and drugs; carbon monoxide and cyanide tests were not performed. For the flight instructor, tests were negative for carbon monoxide and ethanol; cetirizine (an allergy medication) was detected in urine and blood. Neither carbon monoxide nor cyanide tests were performed on the male ATP; results were negative for ethanol and drugs.
Tests and Research
Examination of the engine and propeller revealed that the engine produced spark and compression. Spark plugs showed normal wear. Fuel nozzles were clean; the fuel manifold screen was clean but no fuel was present. The fuel pump was difficult to rotate. Propeller blades were bent and twisted, with leading edge scratches and tearing. The throttle control lever was damaged due to impact. No pre-impact mechanical anomalies were identified.