Piper PA-22-135 accident near Kremmling, Colorado, April 7, 2005
On April 7, 2005 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-135, registered N3766A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kremmling, Colorado (Mc Elroy Airfield). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 7, 2005 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Kremmling, Colorado · Mc Elroy Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-135 · all PA-22-135s on the register
- Registration
- N3766A · no longer on the register · serial 22-2008
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane departed approximately 1500. The airplane was reported missing on the evening of April 7, 2005, by concerned family members. An ALNOT (search and rescue alert notice) was issued at 2315 on April 7. The ALNOT was cancelled on April 18 and the search suspended. On August 5, 2005, two hikers discovered the airplane wreckage on the south wall of a canyon at an approximate elevation of 7,960 feet msl. The main wreckage came to rest inverted between several rocks and trees. The wreckage consisted of the fuselage, empennage, both the right and left wing assemblies, and the engine. The propeller was located approximately 40 feet directly above the main wreckage at an elevation of approximately 8,020 feet msl. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,959 hours in all; 82 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: June 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
Crew member
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,800 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,325 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 20V Kremmling CO at 9:00 pm
- Destination: 1V6 Canon City CO
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 9:15 pm from EGE, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.