Authorities in southwest Colorado say the pilot of a small plane , killing both people aboard, reported mechanical problems before slamming into the ground.
“Witnesses on the ground reported that there was white smoke coming from the airplane just prior to the crash,” the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. “He was banking hard to the left to turn around, possibly in an attempt to land on a nearby gravel road.”
Investigators say the pilot radioed to a fellow airplane about the problems.
The sheriff’s office says they have not positively identified the man who was piloting the plane and that investigators are evaluating dental records as part of their confirmation.
The female passenger killed has been identified, but authorities said her name will not be released until the identification of the man has been confirmed. Officials said both aboard the plane were from out of state.
The plane, a Beechcraft 35 Bonanza, crashed near U.S. 84 roughly seven miles south of Pagosa Springs. about 10:30 a.m.
The plane was en route to the Archuleta County Airport when it went down, said Chris Harker, the airport’s operations manager.
Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or @JesseAPaul
