Moth Aircraft Corp DH60GM accident near Cortez, Colorado, August 8, 2019
On August 8, 2019 at about 1:45 am local time, a 1929 Moth Aircraft Corp DH60GM, registered N919DH, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Cortez, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power due to carburetor ice accumulation, which resulted in a loss of altitude and impact with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 8, 2019 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- Cortez, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Moth Aircraft Corp DH60GM, built 1929
- Registration
- N919DH · registry record · serial 120
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, shortly after takeoff, he reduced engine power to about 1,800 rpm and continued along a valley in a shallow climb. As the airplane approached a ridge, he turned the airplane back toward the valley and felt a “subtle sluggishness” of the airplane during the turn. He applied carburetor heat; however, it did not appear to have an effect, and he turned the carburetor heat off after about 20 seconds. The pilot continued toward an area of rising terrain because the engine was running smoothly and, he believed, producing enough power to return to the departure airport. The airplane descended and impacted trees, resulting in substantial damage to the wings, empennage, and fuselage. The recorded temperature and dew point at the time of the accident were conducive to the accumulation of serious carburetor icing at a glide power setting. Based on the available information, it is likely that the airplane lost partial power due to the accumulation of carburetor ice, which resulted in a gradual descent and impact with terrain.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section › Related operating info
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 7,875 hours in all; 550 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 7,875 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 31, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,228 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 3, 2019; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Dehavilland Gypsy II (piston); 302 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Mancos CO at 1:20 pm
- Destination: CEZ Cortez CO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from KCEZ, 16 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KCEZ 080153Z AUTO 27005KT 10SM CLR 27/10 A3011 RMK AO2 SLP110 T02720100
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN19LA260.