Recent fatal crash warns of mountain flying dangers (Updated)

January 1, 1:56 AMDenver Aviation ExaminerChris Rodriguez

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In upcoming articles I’ll talk about crossing the Continental Divide and night flying in the mountains.  Unfortunately, there was a nightime accident recently on the Colorado-New Mexico border near the Continental Divide. 

I study incidents like this for a couple of reasons.  The main reason is to learn from it based on a pilot’s standpoint, but also to remember it as a potential trap while working similar flights as an air traffic controller.  These situations happen much more often than the public is aware of, thankfully something intervenes -- be it a suggestion from a controller or the pilot taking a more critical eye toward the situation -- that helps avoid catastrophe.

The flight involved was a Beechcraft 58 Baron, which is a fairly capable twin-engine airplane. It was registered in Canada and on a flight from Pueblo, Colo., (KPUB), to Santa Fe, N.M., (KSAF). One report said it was on a flight plan, but didn’t say whether it was under visual flight rules (VFR) or instrument flight rules (IFR).  Considering the route of flight and the altitude at which it crashed, I assume it was VFR. 

If you look at a map, the crash site is almost on a straight line between Pueblo and Santa Fe, and right into the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.  Flying straight lines anywhere in mountainous areas is only a good idea if you are well above the terrain. One report has the crash site at 11,800 feet on 13,723-foot Vermejo Peak, which is in the Culebra Range.  The crash site is on the northeast side of this peak, which points right toward the Pueblo direct route.  The crash scene was of total devastation and fire. One report said the aircraft had just been refueled.  What’s not clear is the angle, as in flown right into, pancaked in after a stall, or a spiral downward.  Unfortunately, there were no radio transmissions, which points to a couple of possibilities:

a) it happened so quickly that the pilot did not see the peak, possibly at all in the darkness and being below the ridge’s horizon line, and/or

b) being below or out of range of any facilities' frequency coverage. 

Pictured (courtesy www.summitpost.org) is a view of Vermejo Peak from the north, the general direction the flight was coming from.  From this angle, the crash site would sit on the left side of the closest large peak.

As always in situations like this, my thoughts go out to the surviving family members.  This is not meant to be a study in what brought on someone’s demise, but to help in closure and future avoidance.  How could this have been avoided?  While I don’t control this airspace where I work (but pretty close), I have flown through this area several times.  The La Veta Pass, which is not far, is a common way to cross this range, and one I highly recommend to pilots unfamiliar with this area.  Once you miss that pass, regardless of direction, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains pose a serious problem.  This flight, and any others north/southbound in this area, especially at night, are much better off following Interstate 25.

The other alternative on the west side of this range is the San Luis Valley, but this is a poor area for radar coverage and is sparsely populated and not well lit.  The I-25 route would’ve added a minimal amount of time to this or any similar flight with many landing alternatives along the way, not the least of which is I-25 itself.  Unfortunately, the area of the crash is in such a remote location, it may be spring before investigators can get close to the site.

UPDATE 12/31/08 - According to an updated Denver Post story on the above crash, "The NTSB found that the flight, bound for Sante Fe, N.M., was on cruise at 18,000 feet began an "uncontrolled descent" crashing within about 150 yards of the 13,367-foot summit."  The plot definitely thickens with this new information.  This would lead to the possibility of a strong mountain wave situation on the lee side of Vermejo Peak and this range.  But enough to cause an over 4,000' drop in altitude?  That seems like a stetch, unless the aircraft stalled and spun.

Pilots can learn more about mountain flying by taking the AOPA Air Safety Foundation's free interactive course.