DENVER (AP) – Federal investigators say they couldn’t tell why a single-engine plane apparently lost power before it crashed in the Colorado mountains in 2010, killing two people from California and one from Washington state.
The National Transportation Safety Board’s final report on the crash, dated Wednesday, says it appears the propeller may not have been turning at the time of the Aug. 4, 2010, crash. The report says investigators found no other signs of pre-crash mechanical trouble.
The crash killed the 70-year-old pilot, John Howard of Sunnyvale, Calif., and his passengers, 56-year-old Catherine Heveran of Sunnyvale and 25-year-old James Chatham of Spokane, Wash.
The Beech C-35 had taken off from Boulder en route to San Jose, Calif. It crashed near Rollinsville, 30 miles west of downtown Denver and 13 miles from Boulder.
The National Transportation Safety Board’s final report on the crash, dated Wednesday, says it appears the propeller may not have been turning at the time of the Aug. 4, 2010, crash. The report says investigators found no other signs of pre-crash mechanical trouble.
The crash killed the 70-year-old pilot, John Howard of Sunnyvale, Calif., and his passengers, 56-year-old Catherine Heveran of Sunnyvale and 25-year-old James Chatham of Spokane, Wash.
The Beech C-35 had taken off from Boulder en route to San Jose, Calif. It crashed near Rollinsville, 30 miles west of downtown Denver and 13 miles from Boulder.
NTSB Identification: CEN10FA458
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, August 04, 2010 in Rollinsville, CO
Probable Cause Approval Date: 04/04/2012
Aircraft: BEECH C35, registration: N8974A
Injuries: 3 Fatal.
Forest service personnel discovered the wreckage of the airplane on the side of a narrow, wooded valley after reports of fire in the area. Ground scars and damage to adjacent trees were consistent with the airplane having struck trees before impacting the ground. One propeller blade was located 250 feet from the main wreckage. Damage to the propeller blade and blade hub was consistent with separation due to the impact with trees and indicative of little to no rotation at impact. Examination of the remaining airplane, engine, and related systems revealed no anomalies. No reason for a possible loss of engine power or the impact with terrain could be determined.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
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