History of Flight
On May 6, 2023, about 0935 mountain daylight time, an experimental Pool-Cessna R-172E (T-41B) airplane, N15188, was destroyed when it impacted terrain near Victor, Colorado. The pilot and three passengers were fatally injured. The flight was operated as a personal flight under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
According to the airport manager, the flight departed Freemont County Airport (1V6), Canon City, Colorado, about 0920, with an intended destination of Centennial Airport (APA), Centennial, Colorado. Later that day, the pilot's family notified local authorities that the flight was overdue. The accident site was located the following morning.
Airplane position data showed that after takeoff, the flight proceeded north. The initial data point at 0924:54 was located about 0.75 miles northwest of 1V6 at an altitude of 6,000 ft mean sea level (msl). The final data point at 0934:57 was about 0.20 miles south of the accident site at 9,400 ft msl. The accident site was in mountainous terrain about 15 miles north of the departure airport at an elevation of about 9,170 ft. Terrain in the immediate vicinity rose to nearly 9,300 ft.
Aircraft Information
According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the airplane was assembled from spare parts and certificated in the experimental-exhibition category in April 2012. It was originally manufactured as a Cessna model R-172E and sold to the U.S. Army as a model T-41B. The owner informed the FAA that he did not know the disposition of the military data plate and had no military records for the airplane.
Meteorological Information
A trough was located immediately west of the accident site, with winds at or near perpendicular to the mountain chain. Wind flow near the mountain top was about 25 knots, and about 50 knots near 18,000 ft. A High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) sounding indicated that updrafts and downdrafts of up to 600 ft/min were possible across the area above 14,000 ft. However, pilot reports (PIREPs) indicated that mountain wave activity, low-level wind shear, and turbulence occurred below 14,000 ft as well. PIREPs surrounding the accident timeframe reported downdrafts as strong as 500 ft/min and updrafts as strong as 1,000 ft/min between 9,000 and 17,000 ft. Low-level water vapor imagery with transverse or gravity wave banding along the mountainous terrain and to points of the Front Range confirmed mountain wave activity.
Weather forecasts valid for the accident time included a G-AIRMET Tango for moderate turbulence conditions below 18,000 ft, and conditions were confirmed by numerous PIREPs along the Front Range. The estimated density altitude at the accident site was about 11,300 ft. There was no record of the pilot requesting weather information from Leidos Flight Service, nor an account with ForeFlight. The investigation could not determine what weather information, if any, the pilot received before or during the flight.
Wreckage and Impact
The airplane came to rest inverted after impacting trees and terrain. A postimpact fire ensued, consuming the majority of the fuselage. The left wing was located with the fuselage. The outboard portion of the right wing separated near the root and was suspended in a tree about 35 ft southeast of the main wreckage. The inboard portion of the right wing remained with the fuselage. The empennage exhibited impact and fire damage.
Flight control surfaces remained attached to the airframe. Control surfaces and cables showed damage consistent with impact forces and the postimpact fire. No anomalies attributable to a preimpact failure or malfunction were observed. The engine exhibited damage consistent with both the impact sequence and the postimpact fire. No anomalies attributable to an inability to produce rated power were observed.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy of the pilot was performed by the El Paso County Coroner’s Office. According to the autopsy report, the cause of death was blunt force and thermal injuries, and the manner of death was accident. The FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory performed toxicological testing on muscle tissue specimens from the pilot. Testing identified acetaminophen and salicylic acid (aspirin), neither of which are considered impairing. No other drugs were detected. Ethanol was not detected.