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More Details Released About Boulder Crash

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Feb 8, 2010 6:12 pm US/Mountain

More Details Released About Boulder Crash

Sun Glare May Have Been A Factor

Reporting
Valerie Castro
BOULDER, Colo. (AP/CBS4) ― Federal investigators say the two planes that collided midair near Boulder were flying in clear weather and not performing maneuvers when the accident occurred.

Those were among the details released Monday of the crash that killed all three occupants in both planes Saturday. Witnesses told investigators that the Cirrus SR-20 aircraft hit the Piper Pawnee at a 90-degree angle and that a glider being towed by the Piper Pawnee disconnected just before impact.

Sun glare was mentioned as having a possible role in the collision.

Investigators believe the pilots didn't see each other at all until the moment of impact.

"For whatever reason the two airplanes did not see each other when they collided," Jennifer Rodi with the National Transportation Safety Board said.

The glider's pilot said he saw the Cirrus coming from the north, headed for the Pawnee. Seconds before the impact, he detached the glider from the tow plane.

"Very shortly thereafter the Cirrus impacted the right side of the Piper Pawnee and there was absolutely no maneuver and no movement of the Piper Pawnee prior to the impact," Rodi said.

Killed in the accident were 58-year-old Bob Matthews and his 56-year-old brother Mark Matthews, both from Boulder, and 25-year-old Alexander Howard Gilmer of Evergreen.

The investigator also said the Cirrus aircraft took off from the airport in Erie, not Boulder.

Investigators will piece together the aircrafts Tuesday.

(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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