Location: Montrose, Colorado
Accident Number: CEN22LA093
Date and Time: January 2, 2022, 10:40 Local
Registration: N750DP
Aircraft: Zenith CH750
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
On January 02, 2022, about 1040 mountain standard time, a Zenith CH750, N750DP, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Montrose, Colorado. The pilot was uninjured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight.
The pilot stated that before taking off for the flight, he added 24 gallons of 92 octane, ethanol free automotive gas to the fuel tanks. After waiting for the fuel to settle, he sumped the fuel tanks and observed no contamination or water. About 30 minutes after departure and while in cruise flight, at an altitude of about 10,500 ft mean sea level, he observed the fuel pressure decrease from 44 pounds per square inch (psi) to 39 psi. It increased to 40 psi, before decreasing to zero at the same time the engine RPMs decreased to zero. For the next 3 to 5 minutes, the fuel pressure and RPMs fluctuated between normal and zero. He activated the backup fuel pump with no effect noted.
The pilot executed a forced landing on top of a snow-covered plateau about 20 miles south of Montrose. During the landing, the wheels dug into the snow, and the airplane nosed over which resulted in substantial damage to both wings.
The airplane was equipped with a Viking/Honda 110 engine. A detailed examination is pending.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Zenith
Registration: N750DP
Model/Series: CH750
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: Yes
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KMTJ, 5720 ft msl
Observation Time: 09:53 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 18 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: -13°C /-18°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 6 knots / , 160°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.49 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Departure Point: Poania, CO (7V2)
Destination:
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 38.44,-108.28 (est)
Montrose County Sheriff's Office
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Pilot Walks Away Unharmed After Small Plane Crash in Montrose County
Montrose, COLORADO — On the morning of January 2, the Montrose County Sheriff Office received information that a pilot in a private aircraft declared an emergency over the radio. The pilot said his aircraft was going down west of Montrose.
Another private aircraft overheard the radio communication and flew the area in hopes of locating the downed aircraft. The pilot was ultimately able to locate the downed aircraft, a 2010 Zenith CH 750, on the Uncompahgre Plateau, which was upside down in the snow. The second pilot was able to get into radio communication with the pilot and sole occupant of the downed aircraft and provided rough coordinates to the location of the downed aircraft before disengaging and flying to the Montrose Regional Airport.
Montrose County Sheriff’s Office deputies, Montrose County Sheriff’s Posse members, and members of the Montrose Fire Protection District responded to the area to try and locate the downed aircraft via snowmobiles and a side-by-side with snow tracks. Care Flight of the Rockies then launched and flew to the area of the crash site to try and locate the downed aircraft from the air since the remoteness of the crash site would delay the response of ground crews.
Care Flight was able to locate the downed aircraft and dropped snowshoes to the pilot, later identified as 63-year-old Randy Boykin. Care Flight was able to land nearby and Mr. Boykin, who miraculously didn’t sustain any life-threatening injuries, was able to walk out to meet Care Flight and he was transported to his home-base airport east of Delta.
“It is incredible that the pilot only sustained minor injuries and we are extremely grateful for this outcome, as it could have been much worse,” said Montrose County Sheriff’s Office Commander Ty Cox. “Mr. Boykin did an outstanding job attempting to land the aircraft in an area free of any trees or other hazards. We are very grateful to our partners and the private pilot who overheard the initial call of distress in the successful rescue of Mr. Boykin.”
Mr. Boykin later contacted the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office and said that his aircraft had a mechanical issue, which caused him to crash after losing power. Per protocol, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will be conducting the crash investigation.
