FOUNTAIN, CO, USA
N24204
CESSNA 152
THE PILOT HAD BEEN HIRED TO FERRY THE RECENTLY PURCHASED AIRPLANE FROM SANTA BARBARA, CA, TO AURORA, CO. HE SAID HE LAST PURCHASED FUEL IN LAS VEGAS, NM, AND FLEW TO RATON, NM, WHERE HE SPENT THE NIGHT IN THE AIRPLANE. HE DEPARTED RATON AT 0700 THE NEXT MORNING. NEAR COLORADO SPRINGS, HE ENCOUNTERED LOW CEILING, OBSCURATION, FOG AND DRIZZLE. HE REVERSED COURSE BUT WEATHER CONDITIONS DETERIORATED. NOT BEING INSTRUMENT RATED, HE ELECTED TO LAND ATOP A MESA. DURING THE ROLLOUT, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A RUT AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PILOT DID NOT GET A PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING.
THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ON WHICH TO MAKE A LANDING. FACTORS WERE: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING, AND WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT INCLUDED LOW CEILING, OBSCURATION, FOG, AND DRIZZLE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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