Witnesses Said Plane Circled Town Before Crash

Two people and two dogs onboard a Piper PA-60-602P Aerostar were killed Thursday night when their aircraft went down near McElroy Field (20V) in Kremmling, CO, about 100 nautical miles northwest of Denver.

Local news reports state the aircraft, inbound from North Las Vegas Airport (VGT), was attempted to land when it crashed in a hay field two miles west of town, and caught fire.

Witnesses said the aircraft circled the town once, and some said it appeared the plane was experiencing engine problems.

Reported weather shows a high scattered-to-broken cloud layer, with light rain in the area. 

According to FAA records, the accident aircraft, N97TS (similar to type shown below, right) was built in 1982. It was registered to a Las Vegas equipment leasing company.

Investigators from the NTSB and FAA were on the scene Friday morning.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 97TS        Make/Model: PA60      Description: AEROSTAR
  Date: 09/19/2008     Time: 0217

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Fatal     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION
  City: KREMMLING   State: CO   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT CRASHED AFTER BEING CLEARED FOR VISUAL LANDING, KEMMING, CO

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   2
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   1     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   1     Fat:   1     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: 12006KTS 10SM -RA SCT060 BKN065 OVC085 10/4 A3036

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Approach      Operation: OTHER

  FAA FSDO: DENVER, CO  (NM03)                    Entry date: 09/19/2008

FMI: www.faa.gov