A report on a plane crash in southern Colorado says the pilot had been warned not to fly into Pagosa Springs because of winter weather before his aircraft went down, killing him and his girlfriend.
The National Transportation Safety Board revealed its findings this week of the November 2014 crash that killed 55-year-old Howard Guthrie, of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, and 42-year-old Melissa Watson, of Albuquerque.
The board’s report says Guthrie disregarded a message from an Archuleta County airport operator, who warned against flying in the bad weather.
The pilot had tried flying into the airport despite low visibility and snowy conditions before turning around and flying back toward New Mexico.
The report says that shortly thereafter, the Mooney M-20C collided with trees and crashed. Searchers found the wreckage several days later.
