JUNE 4, 2015
MONTROSE, COLORADO
Gunnison County Public Works employees helped rescue the
Montrose attorney whose biplane crashed on Cerro Summit early Wednesday.
Steve M. Mathis was the lone occupant of the plane. He took
off from his hangar at Montrose Regional Airport shortly after 7 a.m., en route
to meet friends in Elbert and from there, to Kansas for a biplane show,
according to a news release from Montrose County.
As he approached Cerro Summit, began experiencing engine
trouble, according to Montrose County Sheriff Rick Dunlap.
"He didn't think he had enough power to make it over
the summit, so he attempted to turn around and unfortunately, he crashed
it," Dunlap told the Daily Press.
The plane impacted nose-first
within sight of Gunnison County Public Works employees Scott Bever, Shawn
McConnell, Dale Tillman, Kenneth Webb and Dave Coleman.
Dunlap said the men went to Mathis' aid and got him out of
the plane, tending to him until Montrose Fire Protection District emergency
medical responders could make the scene.
"I
would like to honor their quick-thinking and willingness to help," Dunlap
said in a news release.
The men could not be reached for comment Wednesday
afternoon, as they remained on the job.
Mathis was
taken to Montrose Memorial Hospital, where he was listed in good condition
Wednesday morning.
Messages left at his law firm and at his family home were
not immediately returned.
Earlier update:
Montrose County Sheriff’s office responded to a
single-engine biplane crash this morning on Cerro Summit near mile marker 107.
The plane crashed on the east side of a field. The pilot was transported to
Montrose Memorial Hospital in stable condition.
The crash occurred on city property, and there were
witnesses, Montrose Police Cmdr. Gene Lillard said.
The pilot has not been officially identified. The plane is
registered to UPF-7 LLC., which shows a Montrose address that also belongs to
local attorney Steve Mathis.
A Steve Mathis is listed in good condition at Montrose
Memorial Hospital.
Colorado State Patrol and the Montrose Fire Protection
District assisted with the response effort. At this time, the National
Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are
investigating the incident.
Source: http://www.montrosepress.com
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Date:
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03-JUN-2015
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Time:
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Morning
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Type:
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Waco UPF-7
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Owner/operator:
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UPF-7 LLC
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Registration:
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N29943
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C/n / msn:
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5441
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Fatalities:
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Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
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Other fatalities:
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0
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Airplane damage:
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Substantial
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Location:
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Cerro Summit, east of Montrose Regional Airport (KMTJ),
Montrose, CO -
United
States of America |
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Phase:
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En route
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Nature:
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Unknown
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Departure airport:
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Destination airport:
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Narrative:
The aircraft impacted terrain on Cerro Summit east of Montrose Regional Airport (KMTJ), Montrose, Colorado. The biplane sustained substantial damage and the sole pilot onboard received undisclosed injuries.
The aircraft impacted terrain on Cerro Summit east of Montrose Regional Airport (KMTJ), Montrose, Colorado. The biplane sustained substantial damage and the sole pilot onboard received undisclosed injuries.
Sources:
http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=176619
http://www.gjsentinel.com/breaking/articles/biplane-pilot-rescued-on-cerro-summit
http://www.nbc11news.com/home/headlines/Small-plane-crashes-in-Montrose-County-pilot-taken-to-hospital-305996961.html?device=tablet&c=y
http://www.montrosepress.com/breaking_news/plane-crash-on-cerro-summit/article_e928bd3c-0a03-11e5-bbdb-db9ec61cd958.html
http://denver.cbslocal.com/2015/06/03/pilot-injured-in-small-plane-crash-on-cerro-summit/
http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/N29943.html
http://www.aviation-history.com/waco/upf-7.html
http://www.aviation-history.com/waco/upf-7.html