Locals aid oxygen-starved pilot

MONTROSE — A pilot bound to Kansas from Utah had to take a detour and land at Montrose Friday, because he lost oxygen.

A cracked oxygen mask and load imbalance were thought to have been factors, Kenn Kline of Black Canyon Jet Center said.

“He never departed a controlled flight, but it was kind of tough up there in the air,” Kline said.

According to Kline, pilot Boyd Jones was flying a C-182Q from Milford, Utah, to Dodge City Ks. at about 16,000 feet, when he rapidly began to lose oxygen and contacted Denver Center for help.

Denver Center vectored him to Montrose Regional Airport and Jones, who was “gasping for air,” began a sharp descent, at a rate of approximately 2,000 feet per minute, to 12,000 feet.

Black Canyon Jet Center, which is Montrose Regional’s fixed-base operator, was just about to close for the night, but line employee Dave Chicon answered a call from Denver.

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