Amateur-built CP-305 accident near Del Norte, Colorado, March 1, 2005
On March 1, 2005 at about 4:25 pm local time, a amateur-built CP-305, registered N9091, was destroyed in an accident near Del Norte, Colorado. 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 with the terrain for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 1, 2005 · about 4:25 pm local time
- Place
- Del Norte, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CP-305
- Registration
- N9091 · no longer on the register · serial 9-15
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after departure, the airplane impacted near the base of a 300-foot butte. According to a witness, the pilot and passenger departed the airport to the west and he then lost sight of the airplane behind rising terrain adjacent to the airport. The witness reported the engine sounded normal during departure. Another witness, located in his residence, heard the airplane and a few minutes later heard a "pop." The witness observed a fire on a hillside. Examination of the accident site revealed the airplane impacted the terrain and came to rest approximately 167 feet from the initial impact. The airplane was destroyed by fire. The propeller blades displayed leading edge gouging, chordwise scratches, and were twisted in the direction of rotation. Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit to the flight control surfaces. The pilot had accumulated approximately 900 total flight hours.
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: 900 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 8V1 Del Norte CO at 4:20 pm
- Destination: South Park CO
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 50 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 3:52 pm from KALS, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.