Denver - Gillette

On April 17, 1981 at 04:01 PM, Denver - Gillette experienced a crash involving Handley Page H.P.137 Jetstream, operated by Air US, with the event recorded near Loveland Colorado.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.

13 people were known to be on board, 13 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 11, passenger fatalities: 11, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. Air US Flight 716 departed Denver-Stapleton, CO at 15:46 for a flight to Gillette, WY. At 15:59 Flight 716 contacted Denver Center to request to maintain FL130, which was approved. In the same area a Cessna TU206 (N4862F, operated by Sky's West Parachute Center) was climbing in a racetrack pattern over Fort Collins/Loveland Municipal Airport to an altitude of FL155. The Cessna had departed this airport at 15:30 for the second parachute jump flight of the day. The Cessna was in a climbing left turn on a north-westerly heading when it was hit by the Air US Jetstream. The No. 1 propeller of the Jetstream cut through the aft fuselage section of the Cessna resulting in immediate loss of control to both aircraft. Two of the skydivers were killed inside the aircraft during the collision. The pilot and three parachutists fell free of the aircraft and parachuted to the ground. The remains of the Cessna descended out of control and crashed in an open field. The Jetstream impacted the ground in a nearly vertical pitch attitude in an open field about 4,000 feet northeast of the Cessna wreckage.

Aircraft reference details include registration N11360, MSN 238, year of manufacture 1969.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 40.3978°, -105.0750°.