May 1997

On April 23, 1997, a helicopter belonging to the Western Area Power Administration (Western) crashed near the summit of Raton Pass in southern Colorado. On April 24, 1997, Michael S. Cowan, Western’s Chief Program Officer, appointed a Type B Accident Investigation Board to investigate the accident in accordance with DOE Order 225.1, Accident Investigations. The Board began its investigation on April 28, 1997, completed the investigation on May 21, 1997, and submitted its findings to the appointing official on May 27, 1997.