Sukhoi SU-26MX accident near Telluride, CO
On September 30, 2000, a Sukhoi SU-26MX (airplane) was involved in an accident near Telluride, CO. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 30, 2000
- Place
- Telluride, CO
- Aircraft
- Sukhoi SU-26MX · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 37.939°N, 107.899°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001212X21964
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 30, 2000, at approximately 1405 mountain daylight time, a Sukhoi SU-26MX, N26KP, was destroyed during impact with terrain following a loss of control while maneuvering at the Telluride Regional Airport, Telluride, Colorado. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant in the airplane, was fatally injured. The pilot was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerobatic flight that was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot had not filed a flight plan. According to the Telluride airport manager, the airplane was scheduled to perform aerobatics, in a local air show, after a flight of T-28s completed several fly-bys. He said that the pilot started his engine "early," and was requesting clearance for departure before the T-28s had finished. The pilot said that he needed to get airborne because his engine was getting hot. The airport manager said that a United Express flight was also requesting a departure. The airport manager instructed the T-28s to land, and he then gave the airplane clearance to takeoff. The airport manager said that the airplane was instructed to fly to a holding area, clear of the airport traffic area. He was then planning to clear the United Express flight for departure. The airport manager said that the airplane flew level down the runway at 75 to 100 feet, and was generating show smoke. He said that at approximately mid field, the airplane "popped up to near vertical." At approximately 500 feet, the airplane began to tumble, and then to spin until it
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering, and the subsequent inadvertent stall/spin to the ground. A contributing factor was the high density altitude weather condition.
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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
