Plane Crash Sand Dunes Nat'l Park

I wonder if they were heading to Mosca Pass and went the wrong way. Mosca Pass is further south by maybe 5-10 nm and is an easy pass. However....the winds were incredibly wicked today in the northern part of the Front Range (boulder to south of Denver). We were flying Young Eagles and getting gusts over 25 but right down the runway 35. Have no idea what the winds were like around the Dunes. But 4 balloons went down in the Boulder area due to the high winds (3 injured),
 
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It was windy here in the Springs too, and apparently near Beulah too (according to articles on the fire there, now contained thankfully) but I don't know what it was like at the crash site. I do remember seeing on some article that the plane was registered out of Monte Vista so it'd doubtful that they were caught off guard unless they were returning from out of the area...
 
N7147R registered to Richard Cutter from KMVI- Monte Vista, CO. Great Sand Dunes NP is 18 nm NE of KMVI. He is listed as having CFI rating on the Piper forum. Goes by Mountain Pilot. Last activity 3/23/13. One post..."I fly out of a 7,600 ft elevation airport all year round ( 150 hp Cherokee ) but during summer it is only a two person plane and fuel loads are kept below the 18 gal tab. And I normally cross country at 12K ft. wit no problem".

http://m39.photobucket.com/albums/High-Mountain-Pilot/Aircraft/N7147R/

An old homepage...

http://armyairforce.freehomepage.com/
 
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N7147R registered to Richard Cutter from KMVI- Monte Vista, CO. Great Sand Dunes NP is 18 nm NE of KMVI. He is listed as having CFI rating on the Piper forum. Goes by Mountain Pilot. Last activity 3/23/13. One post..."I fly out of a 7,600 ft elevation airport all year round ( 150 hp Cherokee ) but during summer it is only a two person plane and fuel loads are kept below the 18 gal tab. And I normally cross country at 12K ft. wit no problem".

http://m39.photobucket.com/albums/High-Mountain-Pilot/Aircraft/N7147R/

An old homepage...

http://armyairforce.freehomepage.com/

Cherokee 140 with the O320 engine.
 
Sounds like the passengers survived, the pilot died in the crash. RIP. :(
 
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