On June 18, 2016, at approximately 2:15 PM, The Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center received multiple reports of an aircraft in distress with a subsequent parachute deployment in the area of Hwy 94 and Peyton Hwy. Deputies from the Sheriff’s Office, along with medical and fire fighting personnel from the area, responded and located the aircraft in a pasture near the 1500 Block of South Peyton Hwy.

The pilot stated that he was experiencing oil pressure issues in his Cirrus SR22 aircraft and was attempting to return to the Colorado Springs Airport.   While en route to the airport, the pilot lost all engine power.  He deployed the aircraft’s fuselage parachute which landed the plane in its current location.  The plane sustained damage to the engine area.

The pilot was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.   The two passengers were transported by helicopter to a local hospital.  The extent of their injuries is unknown at this time.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) were notified and elected not to respond based on the situation.  Instead a “Release for Recovery” was authorized.  The pilot was advised that he would need to have his insurance company transport the aircraft to a suitable facility where the FAA and NTSB would assess the engine malfunction.  The FAA will be the investigating agency and will address any future inquiries for this incident.