CEN24FA083

The pilot’s collision with a fence while taking off from a snow-covered dirt airstrip.

The airplane departed the private, 1,800-ft dirt airstrip for a short flight to another airport. When the airplane did not arrive, an Alert Notice (ALNOT) was issued and a search began. One day later, the airplane wreckage was located beyond the departure end of the private dirt runway. The airplane was destroyed by a postimpact fire. There were no witnesses to the accident and no flight track data associated with the accident flight. A local pilot flying in the area reported that he saw 3 tire tracks on the snow-covered dirt runway near the estimated time that the accident occurred; however, investigators were unable to determine the flight track of the airplane, the time of departure, or the time of the accident. The airplane came to rest on snow-covered ground about 650 ft beyond the departure end of the runway. A barbed wire fence was between the runway and the wreckage and exhibited damage consistent with impact with the airplane. Barbed wire was wrapped around the root of one of the propeller blades about 3 times. Snow in the time between the departure and when the airplane was located masked any ground scars that may have been made during the impact sequence. The postimpact fire destroyed the instrument panel and precluded functional testing of any flight instruments. Flight control continuity from the cockpit to the ailerons, elevator, and rudder was confirmed. The engine separated from the fuselage and sustained fire damage. Both main landing gear struts were bent up and both wings were impact-separated. The engine was fire-damaged and could not be functionally tested. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no pre-impact mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Damage to the airplane was consistent with a loss of control and subsequent collision with the barbed fence and terrain. Investigators were unable to determine the reason for the loss of control.

An autopsy of the pilot was performed by the Montezuma Morgue, in Cortez, Colorado. According to the autopsy report, the cause of death was blunt force trauma and the manner of death was accident. Toxicology testing performed at the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory found 11 mg/dL glucose in the pilot’s urine and was negative for all other tested substances. On January 6, 2024, about 0945 mountain standard time a Just Highlander airplane, N712DG, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Dolores, Colorado. The pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to ADS-B data, the airplane was flown from the Cortez Municipal Airport (CEZ), Cortez, Colorado two days before the accident. The data showed the departure time as about 1601. The airplane landed at the pilot’s private dirt airstrip about 1616. The airplane was parked outside at the private airstrip until the morning of January 6, 2024. The distance from CEZ to the private airstrip was about 17 miles. On the morning of January 6th, about 0915, a family member received a text message from one of the pilots that they were flying back to CEZ. When the airplane did not arrive at CEZ an ALNOT was issued, and a search team was assembled. On January 7th, about 1400, the airplane wreckage was located by local law enforcement beyond the departure end of the private runway. A post-impact fire consumed most of the airplane. There were no witnesses to the accident and there was no ADS-B or radar data associated with the accident flight. A local pilot flying in the area reported that he saw 3 tire tracks on the snow-covered dirt runway near the estimated time that the accident occurred. Investigators were unable to determine the exact time of the airplane’s departure or the time of the accident. The airplane wreckage was located about 610 ft beyond the departure end of the snow-covered, 1,800-ft dirt runway. The airplane came to rest on an approximate heading of 175°. A 3-wire barbed fence was located between the runway and the wreckage and exhibited damage consistent with impact with the airplane. Barbed wire was wrapped around the root of one of the propeller blades about 3 times, consistent with rotation at the time of impact with the fence. Snow in the time between the departure and when the airplane was located masked any ground scars that may have been made during the impact sequence. A postimpact fire ensued and consumed all the fabric on the airframe structure, the flight control surfaces, and all the cockpit instruments. Flight control continuity from the cockpit to the ailerons, elevator, and rudder was confirmed. Examination of the flight controls and airframe structure did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The engine separated from the fuselage and was fire-damaged. The 3-bladed propeller assembly was found separated from the engine and was between the fence and the wreckage. The propeller assembly was impact-damaged on two of the three propeller blades. There was no fire damage to the propeller assembly. The airplane wreckage was recovered to a secure facility for further examination. Both main landing gear struts were bent up and both wings were impact-separated. The engine was fire-damaged and could not be functionally tested. Examination of the engine revealed no pre-impact mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operations.