Flight Impacted Mountain At An Elevation Of 11,500 Feet

The NTSB has released a preliminary report from an accident that occurred on September 5, 2015 in which four people were fatally injured. The report indicates that the two pilots on board the airplane were not instrument rated, but continued their flight into instrument conditions.

According to the report, at about 1408 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 310H, N1099Q, impacted mountainous terrain at an elevation of about 11,500 feet mean sea level near Silverton, Colorado, based upon preliminary radar information consistent with the flight.

Two non-instrument, single-engine land rated private pilots and two passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces. The airplane was registered to and operated by the registered pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight that was not operating on a flight plan and was not utilizing flight following services by air traffic control.

Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight last departed from Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, Flagstaff, Arizona. and was destined to Amarillo, Texas.

(Cessna 310 pictured in file photo. Not accident airplane)

FMI: www.ntsb.gov