Cortez - Monticello

On June 2, 1983 at 05:23 PM, Cortez - Monticello experienced a crash involving Rockwell Grand Commander 680, operated by Geodata International, with the event recorded near Monticello Utah.

The flight was categorized as survey / patrol / reconnaissance and the reported phase was flight at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

2 people were known to be on board, 2 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: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The aircraft crashed while doing magnetometer surveys at low altitude. The right engine had lost power then regained it for a short period and lost it again. A videotape in the aircraft recorded the pilot saying, 'I changed that # just in time.' the aircraft yawed and the propeller slowed at the same time. The fuel selector valves were found on the center tanks. The boost pump switches were found in the off position. When changing from outboard to center tanks the boost pumps must be on or fuel starvation will occur. As the aircraft slowed the tape revealed that the copilot called out 'down to 90'. 90 mph is VMC. The aircraft stalled, shortly after the asymmetrical thrust rolled the aircraft to the right and into the ground. Both occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration N271VT, MSN 680-1435-74, year of manufacture 1964.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 37.8751°, -109.3403°.