AFTER DEPARTING SALIDA AT APPROXIMATELY 0820 THE PLT RADIOED OVER UNICOM THAT THE CLOUDS IN THE LOCAL AREA HAD BASES OF 12,500 FT MSL & TOPS AT 16,500 FT MSL. ABOUT 15 MIN LATER THE ACFT IMPACTED A MOUNTAIN AT THE 13,500 FT LEVEL. THERE WERE FLT PRECAUTIONS OVER & NEAR THE MOUNTAINS OF WYOMING & COLORADO FOR OCCASIONAL MODERATE TURBULENCE BELOW 20,000 FT WITH STRONG UP DRAFTS ALONG THE EASTERN SLOPES. ALSO MOUNTAINS OF WYOMING & COLORADO OCCASIONALLY OBSCURED ABOVE 7,000 TO 10,000 FT WITH CLOUDS & SNOW. AT 0845 A HELICOPTER PLT REPORTED UNABLE TO MAINTAIN VFR OVER THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE FROM CORONA PASS TO ESTES PARK DUE TO BLOWING SNOW & CLOUDS OBSCURING THE MOUNTAINS. THE PAX HELD A COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATE WITH AN INSTRUMENT RATING BUT REPORTEDLY DID NOT MEET THE CURRENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR IFR FLT.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

Contributing Factors

WEATHER CONDITION..CLOUDS

Contributing Factors

WEATHER CONDITION..DOWNDRAFT

Contributing Factors

WEATHER CONDITION..HIGH WIND

Contributing Factors

WEATHER CONDITION..MOUNTAIN WAVE

Contributing Factors

WEATHER CONDITION..TURBULENCE IN CLOUDS

Contributing Factors

OVERCONFIDENCE IN PERSONAL ABILITY..PILOT IN COMMAND

Contributing Factors

TERRAIN CONDITION..RISING

Contributing Factors

TERRAIN CONDITION..MOUNTAINOUS/HILLY

Index for Apr1982 | Index of months