Navion G accident near Telluride, Colorado, July 19, 1998
On July 19, 1998 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Navion G, registered N2498T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Telluride, Colorado (Telluride Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Pilot operating the aircraft with an overly lean mixture. A factor was unsuitable terrain for a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 1998 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Telluride, Colorado · Telluride Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Navion G
- Registration
- N2498T · registry record · serial NAV4-2498
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a visual approach, while turning base leg for landing at the end of a cross-country flight, the engine lost all power and the aircraft landed in trees off the approach end of the runway of intended use. Examination of the engine provided no evidence of mechanical failure or malfunction; however, it did provide evidence of an overly lean mixture in the form of white carbon like material on the spark plugs. Verification of fuel remaining at the time of the accident was not possible due to impact damage which compromised the fuel system.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,832 hours in all; 1,136 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,382 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 19, 1998; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,150 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-H6B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GJT Grand Junction CO at 9:30 pm
- Destination: TEX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 6,870 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 11,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:20 pm from TEX, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.