Piper PA-28-235 | N8777W
October 24th, 2026 | Gunnison, Colorado
Accident Location
- City: Gunnison
- State: Colorado
- Latitude: 38.6700024
- Longitude: -106.99479
- Airport ID:
Aircraft Info
- N Number: N8777W
- Make: Piper
- Model: PA-28-235
- Aircraft Category: Aircraft Single Engine Land
- Amateur Built: No
Pilot Info
- PIC Name: Hendrickson, Mark Alan
- Gender: Male
- Pilot Age: 46
- Pilot Hours:
- Flight School: No
- Instructional Flight: No
- Pilot Certification: Private Pilot
- IFR Rating: No
- Pilot Error: Yes
- Pilot Medical: Basic Med
- Pilot Incapacitation: No
Analysis
- Date: October 24th, 2026
- Time: 8:25 AM Local Time
- Day / Night: Day
- VMC / IMC: IMC
- Phase Of Flight: Enroute
- Total People Onboard: 3
- PIC Fatality: 1
- PAX Fatalities: 2
- Ground Fatalities: 0
- Total Fatalities: 3
- NTSB No:
- NTSB Travel: Unknown
- AQP Classification: 7) TERRAIN COLLISION, C-FIT
Probable Cause
DTSB: Pending. The accident pilot departed Rifle, Colorado (KRIL) with his two sons in very marginal weather conditions, and flew southeast at approximately 10,000 feet MSL. Just before terrain collision, the flight track shows a course reversal to a northwest heading, likely due to IMC conditions and/or airframe icing, where the aircraft did impact rising terrain near Pass Creek. The aircraft had previously successfully navigated the pass southeast bound between Anthracite Range and Storm ridge. There were two adults and one child on board, no survivors.
NTSB: NONE
Recommendation
DTSB: Pending.
NTSB: NONE
DISCLAIMER: All data and Probable Cause listings are “Probable” only. They are based on opinion and educated speculation, and are for educational purposes only. They may contain incorrect information and are subject to change as new information becomes available.