Two Down! (Boulder, CO midair collision)

[glaciercub]

FAA: 2 planes collide in Colorado, killing 2
AP

27 mins ago

BOULDER, Colo. – The Federal Aviation Administration says a plane towing a glider and another aircraft collided in Colorado, killing at least two people.

FAA spokesman Mike Fergus says the glider, described as a sail-plane, apparently disconnected after the Saturday afternoon collision and landed safely a short time later.

Fergus says the two small planes crashed.

Witnesses reported smoldering wreckage in at least three areas on the prairie north of Boulder, which sits at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

Aquina Rogers, a worker at a storage facility in the area, said she could see a wing in one of the wreckage fields.

[1SeventyZ]

Looks like Mountain Matt checked in on BCP Sat Feb 06, 2010 2:04 pm, so I really hope that means that it wasn't him.

[glaciercub]

News has placed two to five down between the tree aircraft? looks as if one bailed out.......

Three people are reported dead in Boulder after a small plane reportedly crashed with a plane towing a glider near the Boulder Municipal Airport.

According to the Denver Post, the aircrafts collided mid-air near 4900 North Broadway.

"It's still a very chaotic situation," a Boulder County Sheriff's dispatcher said.

One of the early reports was of an explosion. Authorities were rushing to three different scenes of wreckage, he said.

"I heard the explosion and went outside," said Adam Baldocchi, who was at work when the explosion happened. "It was just a loud boom."

He said he saw what appeared to be a parachute coming from a glider. The other aircraft, a small plane went down in flames and smoke, out of sight, Baldocchi said. Debris fell in two different locations, he said.

[glaciercub]

more news.... MSNBC UPDATE

msnbc.com news services
updated 4 minutes ago

BOULDER, Colo. - Five people were killed when a small aircraft struck the tow cable of another airplane that was pulling a glider over Boulder on Saturday, fire officials and media reports.

Four people who died in the collision were aboard a Cirrus plane that hit the tow line, NBC affiliate KUSA of Denver reported. Another person on the tow plane also was killed.

Video on MSNBC showed an aircraft on fire, floating toward the ground below a large parachute.

[GumpAir]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp=35273678&#35273678

[mountainmatt]

Not me, but I lost a good friend today.

Please keep those affected by this in your thoughts and prayers.

[denalipilot]

Awful sorry, Mountainatt

[Low&Slow]

Damn! I'm sorry to hear that, my thoughts and prayers to those involved. RIP

[Vick]

Sincere condolences Matt to you and the families of those involved, awful tragedy

[58Skylane]

From the " Flyin at Pagosa Colo. this weekend" thread.

Rats. I'm towing gliders that day. (Not that anyone should feel even remotely sorry for me that I get to fly a Super Cub on the glider club's dime!)

Damn!!! I sure the heck hope Towcub wasn't involved!!! This was his post on the " Flyin at Pagosa Colo. this weekend" thread. Please tell us your OK, Towcub!!

[58Skylane]

Not me, but I lost a good friend today.

Please keep those affected by this in your thoughts and prayers.

Very sorry to hear about your friend!!

[bushwagon]

It wasn't Towcub. He was towing at Meadowlake and I went over and told him about the accident. Truely a sad day in aviation in the CO area.

Blue Skies, Black Death!

[58Skylane]

It wasn't Towcub. He was towing at Meadowlake and I went over and told him about the accident. Truely a sad day in aviation in the CO area.

Blue Skies, Black Death!

Glad TowCub is fine!!! Sheesh......I had a chill down my spine when I got the first news about the accident above and knowing that TowCub was working today.

Again, very sorry to hear about this accident and condolences to the families and friends of those involved!

[182 STOL driver]

Heard from my Glider tow buddy in (Cessna 182 owner/pilot) in Colorado Springs he reports this was a Piper Panwee -low wing tow plane that had just released glider and was turn sharp left in decent -Cirrus was head down watching his video game console G1000 or what ever . LOOK OUTSIDE People !

[58Skylane]

Cirrus was head down watching his video game console G1000 or what ever . LOOK OUTSIDE People !

With all do respect, do you know that as a fact at this moment???

[Tadpole]

Sorry about your buddy Matt.

BSBD

[dhc]

This is a very sad bit of news.

Sincere condolences to their friends and families, and also to the flying community there.

Respectfully...

[mountainmatt]

This was just very sad and unfortunate. The media wasn't helping this situation either by hassling the somber few folks at MHG. I'm not sure about the details of the crash, and I didn't ask when I talked to my old boss this morning.

Alex was a very bright young man. He served our country in the Marines and had a large passion for aviation. We talked about this site and he loved the idea of owning a Maule and being able to do some backcountry flying. We towed together on occasion and it was a true joy to fly by his side.

Not sure what else to say, but it's a tuff loss for those that knew him.

Here's a picture of my last day towing at MHG. We were a little busy that day and Alex was eager to come out and help pick up the slack.



PG 62 of the where did you fly today thread.

[cubscout]

I'm so bummed about about this whole deal. Didn't know any of the deceased, but some of the Principles.

Bmurrish rang me up Saturday PM to make sure I was OK; (THANKS Bill) even though I'm Chief Tuggie on a Pawnee in the region, but a different operation., Griircout and I were in a store, shopping. Sometimes the danged cellphones are a blessing. i'm not so OK now, not anyone's fault. Just grieving.

Mt. Matt, ring me up pm me. I've been trying to work the back story since yesterday. Nothing yet I care to post on the internet. Some of the news reports are not terrible, some are not even believable, but that's typical in these situations.

Thanks. cubscout

[mountainmatt]

PM'd you Cubscout.