Boeing E75N1 accident near Vail, Colorado, June 26, 1991
On June 26, 1991 at about 11:50 pm local time, a Boeing E75N1, registered N45747, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vail, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A SEVERE DOWNDRAFT. A FACTOR WAS: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN A WEATHER BRIEFING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 1991 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- Vail, Colorado
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing E75N1 · all E75N1s on the register
- Registration
- N45747 · registry record · serial 75-5459
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT WAS THE BEGINNING OF A 2 MONTH AROUND THE WORLD GOODWILL FLIGHT IN AN OPEN COCKPIT BIPLANE. COMMEMORATING THE SAME FEAT ACCOMPLISHED BY TWO RUSSIAN PILOTS IN 1937. ABOARD THE AIRPLANE WAS THE 1982 SOVIET AEROBATIC CHAMPION AND CURRENT COACH OF THE SOVIET AEROBATIC TEAM. THE AIRPLANE WAS FLYING BELOW THE RIDGE LINE, APPROACHING VAIL PASS (ELEVATION 10,603 FT MSL) ON THE NORTH SIDE OF I 70 AT 9200 FEET. THE PILOT SAID THEY ENCOUNTERED A SEVERE DOWNDRAFT, DRIVING THE AIRPLANE INTO THE GROUND. A REVIEW OF WEATHER DATA SHOWED EIGHT PIREPS FILED FOR MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE OVER THE COLORADO MOUNTAINS.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,450 hours in all; 349 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 1,349 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming R-680-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0C05 Mack CO at 10:25 pm
- Destination: 1V5 Boulder CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.