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=N8777W
- History of Flight:
On October 24, 2026, at about 0822 local time, a Piper PA-28-235 Cherokee, N8777W. registered to Hendi Aviation LLC out of New Castle, Colorado, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Gunnison, Colorado. The non-instrument rated private pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The personal flight originated from Garfield County Regional Airport (RIL/KRIL), Rifle, Colorado, and was presumably destined to Crested Butte Regional Airport (GUC/KGUC), Gunnison, Colorado.
Flight-tracking history shows that, on October 10, 2026, the airplane departed on an early morning flight from KGUC to KRIL and followed a similar path to the accident flight. However in that flight, the airplane was cruising at 12,400 ft above mountainous terrain.
According to Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data, at 0742, the airplane departed KRIL and entered a climbing right turn to an altitude of 10,000 ft, flying to the southeast in what looked like a return trip to the October 10th flight. At 0819:47, the airplane was observed making a 180 right turn to the northwest. The airplane maintained an altitude of 10,000 ft. At 0822:13, the last ADS-B data point was recorded at 10,300 ft, 110 knots groundspeed, and +250 feet per minute (fpm) vertical rate.
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| Figure 1: Entire Track |
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| Figure 2: Towards end of track, note that the solid straight line are missing ADS-B data points, as the airplane likely maneuvered through mountains |
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| Figure 3: End of track and earlier missing data points showing the general area of the accident site |
The average terrain elevation surrounding the last ADS-B data point ranged from 9,700 ft to 11,500 ft.
- Pilot Information:
The pilot, aged 46, held a private pilot certificate (last issued/updated 4/3/2024) with an airplane single engine land rating. The pilot did not hold an instrument rating. His FAA BasicMed Course was dated 6/18/2024.
- Airplane Information:
The accident airplane, serial number 28-10321, was manufactured in 1964. It was a four-seat, low-wing, fixed gear airplane and powered by a Lycoming O-540 engine. An old sale listing stated that the airplane was IFR equipped.
- Wreckage and Impact Information:
Unknown.
- Weather:
(1) Brief:
At 0756, the nearest airport, KGUC, was reporting winds 310 at 5 knots, 6 miles visibility, rain and mist, a broken cloud layer at 3,200 ft AGL, an overcast ceiling at 4,400 ft AGL, temperature 1 °C, dewpoint 1 °C, and an altimeter setting of 30.28 inches of mercury.
At 0856, the nearest airport, KGUC, was reporting winds 020 at 7 knots, 10 miles visibility few clouds at 3,600 ft AGL, a broken cloud layer at 3,200 and 5,000 ft AGL, temperature 2 °C, dewpoint 1 °C, and an altimeter setting of 30.30 inches of mercury.
A review of the Graphical Area Forecast (GFA) map for the general area showed that a convective SIGMET for thunderstorms was reported at 0755 with the possibility of severe turbulence, icing, hail, and lightning (figure 4). Note that the pink line shows the straight track from KRIL to KGUC, and note that the GFA are from 0815.
At 0548, a G-AIRMET was issued in the area for mountain obscuration, and was still valid through 0900 (see figure 5).
Figure 6 shows the precipitation GFA for the area.
Figure 7 shows the thunderstorm GFA for the area.
Figure 8 shows the temperatures GFA for the area.
Figure 9 shows the winds for the area.
Figure 10 shows the presence of moderate turbulence in the area at 12,000 ft.
Figure 11 shows the presence of moderate to light icing in the area at 12,000 ft. Additionally, a G-AIRMET was issued for moderate icing west of the accident area starting from 0245 and was valid through 0900 with a base of 10,000 ft and a top of 20,000 ft.
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| Figure 4: CIG/VIS |
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| Figure 5: Clouds |
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| Figure 6: Precipitation |
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| Figure 7: Thunderstorms |
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| Figure 8: Temperatures |
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| Figure 9: Winds |
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| Figure 10: Turbulence |
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| Figure 11: Icing |
(2) METARs:
METAR KRIL 241353Z AUTO 00000KT CLR 03/02 A3015 RMK AO2 SLP188 T00330022 $
METAR KRIL 241453Z AUTO 08004KT CLR 05/04 A3016 RMK AO2 SLP194 T00500039 53009 $
METAR KGUC 241356Z AUTO 31005KT 6SM RA BR BKN032 OVC044 01/01 A3028 RMK AO2 UPB27E35RAB35 SLP236 P0006 T00110006 FZRANO $
METAR KGUC 241456Z AUTO 02007KT 10SM FEW036 BKN045 BKN050 02/01 A3030 RMK AO2 RAE51 SLP246 P0005 60011 T00170011 51020 FZRANO $
METAR KASE 241353Z 17005KT 10SM CLR 01/M02 A3021 RMK AO2 SLP180 T00061017
METAR KASE 241453Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 03/M01 A3023 RMK AO2 SLP183 T00331011 53009
METAR KMTJ 241353Z AUTO 09007KT 10SM -RA BKN050 OVC070 07/04 A3016 RMK AO2 RAB19 SLP175 P0002 T00670044
METAR KMTJ 241453Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 08/06 A3015 RMK AO2 RAE07 SLP176 P0000 60002 T00780056 50012
(3) Area Forecast Discussion:
