This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this writing will be corrected when/if the NTSB preliminary report is released.
https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N162GL
- History of Flight:
On October 4, 2026, at about 2129 local time, a Diamond DA40 Diamond Star XLS, N162GL, registered to Boulder Aviation Partners LLC, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Boulder, Colorado. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The personal flight originated from Vance Brand Airport (LMO/KLMO), Longmont, Colorado, at 1832.
According to recent flight-tracking history, On September 27, 2026, at 0903, the airplane departed LMO on a flight to Sterling Municipal Airport (STK/KSTK), Sterling, Colorado, where it landed at roughly 1000. The airplane departed on a return trip to LMO at 1134. On October 2, 2026, at 1457, the airplane departed LMO on a flight to Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE/KEGE), Gypsum, Colorado. The return trip to LMO was initiated at 1652. In these four flights, the airplane followed usual and uneventful paths.
According to Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data, at 1830, the airplane taxied from the ramp to runway 29 at LMO and initiated a takeoff without making any traffic calls. At the same time, a Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP, N927TS, was in the pattern for runway 11. The Cessna attempted to call out the Diamond several times, but without response. The Diamond continued its departure and the Cessna circled around to avoid it. A few seconds later, the pilot of the Cessna was heard saying: "Hey, 2GL, thanks so much for cutting us off in the traffic pattern," and "There’s someone on upwind for 29 who’s being really dangerous." The Diamond continued its climb to 10,000 ft and did not respond to the Cessna (see figures).
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| Figure 1: Cessna (blue) in pattern and Diamond taxiing (red) |
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| Figure 2: Cessna (blue) in pattern avoiding the Diamond takeoff (red) |
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| Figure 3: Entire ADS-B exchange track ran through Flysto with groundspeed data overlay |
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| Figure 4: Takeoff from LMO |
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| Figure 5: Entire Track (3D) |
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| Figure 6: End of Flysto track |
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| Figure 7: View from mountainous terrain of last section of track (Google Earth) |
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| Figure 8: Another view with a line extended from the last data point |
The airplane was reported missing and located the next day.
- Pilot Information:
Unknown.
- Airplane Information:
The accident airplane, serial number 40.1162, was manufactured in 2012. It was a 4-seat, low-wing, all-composite airplane powered by a Lycoming IO-360-M1A+ engine that drove a two-bladed Hartzell propeller. The airplane was issued a certification on 10/23/2021.
An old sale ad listed that the airplane was equipped for IFR flight and a Garmin G-1000 with an Active Traffic and Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT).
- Wreckage and Impact Information:
Unknown.
- Weather:
METAR KBDU 050255Z AUTO 24007KT 10SM CLR 21/M03 A3029 RMK AO2=
METAR KBDU 050315Z AUTO 18003KT 10SM CLR 21/M03 A3030 RMK AO2=
METAR KBDU 050335Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 18/M01 A3030 RMK AO2=
METAR KBDU 050355Z AUTO 22004KT 10SM CLR 16/00 A3030 RMK AO2=
METAR K0CO 050255Z AUTO 29012KT 10SM CLR 05/M06 A3079 RMK AO2=
METAR K0CO 050315Z AUTO 29010KT 10SM CLR 05/M06 A3080 RMK AO2=
METAR K0CO 050335Z AUTO 29009KT 10SM CLR 05/M06 A3080 RMK AO2=
METAR K0CO 050355Z AUTO 28009KT 10SM CLR 05/M05 A3081 RMK AO2=
METAR KBJC 050255Z AUTO 25004KT 10SM CLR 18/01 A3033 RMK AO2=
METAR KBJC 050315Z AUTO 25005KT 10SM CLR 17/00 A3033 RMK AO2=
METAR KBJC 050335Z AUTO 25003KT 10SM CLR 17/00 A3033 RMK AO2=
METAR KBJC 050355Z AUTO 17004KT 10SM CLR 17/M01 A3034 RMK AO2=
130 FXUS65 KBOU 042346 AFDBOU Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 546 PM MDT Sun Oct 4 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Dry and unseasonably warm through at least Saturday, with record/near record warmth on Monday. - Isolated showers possible (15-30% chance) most afternoons for the higher elevations, highest Tue. Precipitation, if any, will be highly localized. && .DISCUSSION /Through Sunday/... Issued at 1200 PM MDT Sun Oct 4 2026 A ridge-dominated pattern will result in an uncharacteristically warm week through at least Saturday, featuring departures from normal of up to 15-20 degrees across the lowlands both Monday and Tuesday. Today, a southerly and easterly low-level post-frontal flow pattern together with the more western ridge axis placement will see us "only" climb into the upper 70`s to lower 80`s in the plains. A modest amount of mid-level moisture trapped beneath the ridge may support an isolated shower this afternoon in and around Park County, but given the lack of forcing, any precipitation would be light. The ridge nudges eastward Monday, with the return of subsident flow and a light downslope wind component pushing temperatures to near daily records for many. It`s probable (>75% chance) that we will register a few 90F+ readings across portions of the urban corridor and South Platte River Valley. Once again, a spotty light afternoon shower can`t be ruled out for parts of the high country with lingering moisture around. Come Tuesday we`ll see a slight relaxation of the ridge, with height falls leading to modest cooling aloft and thus marginally unstable conditions in the high country. This should allow for a minor uptick in afternoon showers over the mountains, and perhaps a weak thunderstorm or two. Elsewhere, moisture will be much too limited to support any precipitation, although a little more cloud cover can be expected. With surface winds taking on a more upslope component, temperatures look to cool a couple of degrees over the plains/urban corridor, but will remain plenty warm. General flattening of the ridge Wednesday through Saturday may allow for a few degrees of additional cooling, however ensembles remain locked-in on the continuation of well above normal temperatures. It appears we`ll hold on to sufficient mid-level moisture to support slight chances (10-25%) of an afternoon shower in the high country essentially each day under a more westerly flow pattern. There is broad agreement among both deterministic and ensemble guidance in the development of longwave troughing across the Intermountain West over the weekend, with a resultant pattern change for Colorado come Sunday or Monday as said trough pushes east. Forecast uncertainty skyrockets starting Sunday, with continued variability in trough amplitude and speed among the range of available guidance. Cluster analysis using the 10/4 0Z guidance favors the slower solutions by roughly 2:1. Whatever the case, run-to-run trends suggest a rising potential for widespread precipitation in the October 11-13 period, accompanied by a notable cooldown. As is typical with these flow patterns, impacts would be favored earlier for our mountains versus the lower elevations, so the current forecast does introduce higher PoPs for the high country beginning Sunday. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS through 00Z Tuesday/... Issued at 533 PM MDT Sun Oct 4 2026 VFR conditions are expected through this TAF package. Easterly winds are currently making their way through DIA with speeds around 12kts. A boundary with stronger southerly winds behind it is currently moving north/northwest towards KDEN and KAPA. This boundary is expected to move into KAPA around 01Z and KDEN around 01Z to 02Z. Winds behind this boundary will be 12 to 15 kts, with occasional gusts around 20kts. These breezier winds will continue through 05Z/06Z, before winds turn more to the southwest and begin to weaken. Overnight, expect drainage winds around 7kts to 12kts. Tomorrow morning we`ll see a period of light and variable winds again before they turn more to the E/NE. At KBJC, winds will generally be light with periods of variable winds through the next 24 hours. && .BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ DISCUSSION...BRQ AVIATION...AP
- Additional Information:
No
Thank you for your very thorough analysis. Another forum claims to have identified the pilot as the "de facto" owner of the plane; e.g the managing member of the LLC that owns the plane. That is the ONLY source of that information that I can find. Considering that individual has a PP_SEL and Instrument rating, that would be completely inconsistent with the characteristics of this ill-fated flight. In my opinion, this plane was being operated by someone who had no idea what they were doing, or the operator was seriously cognitive-impaired (which means they had no idea what they were doing). The erratic nature of the flight track "flies in the face" of common sense, good piloting judgment or technical prowess.
ReplyDeleteDave was not the pilot it was Aaron G and he has his 5 year old daughter with him sadly and it was intentional sadly and beyond comprehension
DeleteThanks for the analysis. I agree the flight track is hard to classify as anything but erratic. Looks like some combination of sightseeing and thrillseeking, all through the evening and into the night. I do want to point out one bit that may be misleading for some readers: "reaching 194 knots groundspeed at one specific point (According to the flight manual, the never exceed speed (Vne) for this airplane was 178 KIAS)". With no wind, an aircraft at ~10,000 MSL would see 194 knots groundspeed at about 167 KIAS. And with a tailwind, the KIAS could have been even lower. While this doesn't excuse what otherwise seems to be reckless behavior, I don't think we can conclude that the pilot exceeded Vne at any point during the flight based on the data we have now.
ReplyDeleteThis was a troubled man who made a horrific decision
ReplyDelete